Origin and history
The castle of Peyrolles-en-Provence came into being in the Middle Ages, with a first mention in 1211 when the archbishop of Aix, Gui de Fos, acquired it. The oldest remains, such as the thick 1.54 m walls in the north wing or the south wall of the east terrace, could date from the 14th century, when the archbishops of Aix were lords of the place until 1474. The fortress, then austere, served as a strategic point in the region, reflecting the ecclesiastical influence and feudal tensions of the time.
In 1475, the castle entered the county by an exchange between Archbishop Olivier de Pennart and King René d'Anjou, Count of Provence. The latter undertook important work to make it a recreational residence: construction of a wooden gallery, vaulting of rooms, creation of a screw staircase, and decoration of tapestries. The "Kitchen of King René", vaulted room on the ground floor, still bears witness to this period, with its monumental fireplace of nearly 5 meters. The castle, which was incorporated into the royal estate in 1481 after René's death, remained a royal property until the 17th century, despite temporary alienation from the king's servants.
In the 16th century, the wars of Religion and local conflicts severely damaged the castle, which was ceded in 1587 to François-Marie de Caseneuve. The latter launched major renovations, especially in the North House Corps, transforming the fortress into a more comfortable home. The inventories of the period describe a square plan with a chapel, stables, and a prison tower. In 1668, Louis XIV exchanged Peyrolles with Henri de Forbin Maynier, Baron of Oppede, marking the beginning of a new era for the castle, which then passed into the hands of the Laurens family.
The Laurens family, from 1681 onwards, undertook a radical metamorphosis of the castle, giving it its present appearance. Antoine de Laurens, Provost Marshal of Provence, plans to make it a recreational residence, but major works begin under his son, Pierre I. The latter enlarges the body of North Homes on several levels, exploiting the gradient of the rock to create spaces suitable for the seasons. Henri de Laurens, in the 1750s, finished the eastern terrace, built a chapel, and acquired adjacent properties to expand the estate. His successor, Peter II, designed an urban plan including a triangular square to the west (1766) and unified the northern facade.
The most ambitious transformation came under Marie-Marguerite de Laurens, the widow of Peter II, who launched in 1778 a colossal work campaign with architect Esprit-Joseph Brun. The two east pavilions are erected, the central body is started, and a large stone staircase of Bonnieux is built in 1779. The facades, cracked in 1784, were to receive sculptures that remained unfinished due to tensions with the local community. The castle, doubled in size, becomes a symbol of power and refinement, mixing decorations of gypsum shops, marble fireplaces, and elegant ironwork.
After the Revolution, the estate was dismantled and partially purchased by the commune in 1863 to install the town hall and schools. Subsequent modifications (closing, garage, interior staircases) partially affected the structure, but major restorations, initiated in the 1990s, restored the castle's radiance. Today, it still houses the town hall and hosts cultural events such as the King René Fair. Ranked a historical monument in 1991, it embodies almost eight centuries of Provencal history, from medieval archbishops to the fascists of the eighteenth century.
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