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Origin and history

The château de Gréoux-les-Bains, often mistakenly called "Château des Templiers", is a building whose oldest parts date back to the 12th century, with major modifications between the 13th and 17th centuries. Ranked a historic monument in 1840, it originally belonged to the Counts of Provence from 1248, before passing into the hands of the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Contrary to a tenacious legend, no archive confirms the presence of the Templars in Gréoux, a confusion repeated by authors since the 18th century without tangible evidence.

The castle is structured around a rectangular courtyard, reinforced by a round tower and a square dungeon, probably from the twelfth century. Its defences were improved in the 16th century, then the building was transformed to offer more comfort. It was acquired by the commune in the 1980s after having escaped destruction during the French Revolution, despite a plunder in 1800 by royalists. Its architecture thus combines medieval elements and Renaissance arrangements, reflecting its evolution over the centuries.

Gréoux-les-Bains, where the castle stands, is a commune marked by a rich history, from its Roman origins (Nymphis Griselicis) to its role during the Wars of Religion and the Revolution. The city, protected by two successive enclosures (XII and XVI centuries), was a fief of the Hospitallers, then noble families such as the Glandeves and the D-Audiffred. The castle, symbol of this past, dominates a territory shaped by thermal springs, agriculture and, later, seaside and cultural tourism.

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