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Origin and history

Mouans Castle is a seigneurial residence built between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century by Pierre de Grasse, on the commune of Mouans-Sartoux, in the Alpes-Maritimes. This monument, characteristic of medieval triangular architecture with its three towers connected by a house body, has retained its original inner courtyard. It was the property of the Grasse family until 1750, before passing to the Villeneuve, then suffering partial destruction during the French Revolution.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the castle was bought by the Durand de Sartoux family, which rebuilt it according to the original plans. In 1989, the commune of Mouans-Sartoux became its owner after its acquisition from the Peguilhan heirs of Sartoux. Since then, the site has housed the Espace de l'art concrète, an international contemporary art centre, as well as a rural museum set up in the former stables, evoking the local life of the past.

Ranked a historical monument by order of 4 January 1989 (including its park), the castle is also known for a cinematic appearance: it appears in the first episode of the Amicalement vois series (1971), with Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. Its history reflects the political and social upheavals of the region, from its role as seigneurial residence to its present cultural vocation.

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