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Origin and history

Sauvan Castle, built between 1719 and 1720 in Mane in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is the work of the avignon architect Jean-Baptiste Franque for Joseph Palamede de Forbin-Janson. This prominent member of the Forbin family, enriched by the Marseille trade, belonged to a lineage that marked the history of Provence by his commitment to the service of the kingdom and the Church. The castle, symbol of their power, is part of a family heritage including other prestigious houses such as La Barben or La Verdière.

The French Revolution largely spared the castle, with the exception of the pediment of its main façade, hammered. In the 19th century he changed hands several times: sold in 1810 to Abbé Henri-Anne Solliers, he then passed to his niece, Marie-Rose Chambaud de Cochet, wife of Count Paul Servan de Bezaure. The estate, reduced to three terraces and equipped with a piece of water between the castle and its communes, underwent landscape adjustments in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Acquired in 1981 by the antique brothers Jean-Claude and Robert Allibert then in ruins, the castle benefited from meticulous restoration. The new owners found some of the original furniture and carefully refurbished it. Now a private property open to the public, it has been fully protected since 2003, including its park labeled "Remarkable Garden" in 2005. Its architecture, inspired by Versailles, and its history inspired cultural works, such as the chronicle of a haunted castle by Pierre Magnan.

The elements protected as historical monuments include facades, roofs, stairwells (classified in 1957), as well as the entire park with its terraces, statues, basins and hydraulic system (registered in 2003). The castle, often compared to the Petit Trianon for its elegance, illustrates the fascist of Provencal families in the Enlightenment century.

The Forbin-Janson family, Marquis since 1626, has left a lasting imprint in Provence. Several of its members, such as Michel (1700-v.1777), Joseph (1726-1806), or Charles (1783-1849), succeeded as owners. Their architectural and cultural heritage remains visible through castles like Sauvan, reflecting their regional influence and patronage.

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