Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château des Creissauds is a monument located in Aubagne, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is located between La Penne-sur-Huveaune and Aubagne, in a place called Le Clos Rufisque, partially masked by a hill. This castle is part of the bourgeois residences of the Huveaune Valley, built in the 19th century by industrialists and shipowners from Marseilles as secondary residences. The name of the estate has evolved over the centuries: "Grisaou" in 1868, "Farm of Creissaud" in 1889, then "Cressaou" in 1969, while the place called "Cros Rufisque" has its origin in a region of Senegal.

The oldest remains of the estate include two pillars potentially of Roman origin and vaulted halls of the sixteenth century, originally linked to agricultural buildings. The present castle was built in the 19th century by the Marseille shipowner Henri Saver, founder of the SGTM shipping company, on these old structures. In the 19th century, the estate housed a wine conservatory containing two hundred different varieties, and its wines were rewarded several times. During World War II, the castle served as Kommandantur to the German army.

The park of the castle is remarkable for its centuries-old plane trees and chestnut trees, as well as its almond trees, boxwood, laurel, yuccas and palm trees. In the back, a four-hectare pine forest completes the landscape. Today, the castle is a private property offering studio rentals, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and rooms for events. It also houses an aromatic garden used by the Ferroni distillery, located on the estate, which produces rums and vintage pastis. The castle is also known for its Saturday Jazz Club and its tree bar.

The Creissauds estate illustrates the wine and bourgeois history of the region, while preserving older architectural traces. Its current use, combining accommodation, catering and cultural activities, makes it a dynamic place rooted in local heritage.

External links