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Origin and history

The Château d'Entrechaux, built in the 10th century, is one of the oldest castles in Provence. His first written records date back to the 11th century when Geoffroy, Count of Provence, donated them to Peter II of Mirabel, bishop of Vaison, and his brother Bertrand. This episcopal fief, confirmed by the pope in 1108, then became a co-seigneury held by the bishops of Vaison for nearly 450 years. The city enters history thanks to this pontifical bubble, marking its strategic and religious importance in the region.

In 1500, Pope Benedict III ceded Entrechaux to Jerome de Guiramand against an annual rent of thirty florins, a sale ratified by Julius II in 1506. Despite an attempt by Bishop Thomas Cortes in 1533 — averted by a payment of 700 guilders and fifty gold ECUs — the fief remained in the hands of secular families. He then passed between the Fogasse (from 1631) and the Ailhaud, until the Revolution. Jean-Pierre Gaspard d'Ailhaud was the last seigneur from 1779 to 1789.

The destruction of the castle began on September 9, 1792, when robbers looted and damaged it. In the 19th century, its stones were reused as a quarry to build houses in the village. Since 1987, the site has belonged to the Guiffray family, which is undertaking reconstruction work. Today, the remains — including a chapel dedicated to Saint Laurent — and the foundations reveal a typical Provençal plan, organized around a dungeon, an enclosure and a place of worship, characteristic of thecastrum villages of Luberon.

Ranked among the castles of Vaucluse, the site is visited by appointment and integrates into a 6 km hiking circuit. Although private property, its walking access from the village allows you to appreciate its strategic location on a hill overlooking the Ouvèze valley. The visible architectural traces testify to its historical role, between episcopal, seigneurial and revolutionary powers.

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