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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The "Lou Parais" house is an 18th-century residence in Manosque, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It was acquired in 1929 by the writer Jean Giono thanks to the success of his novel Colline. He lived there until his death in 1970, writing much of his work there. The house, its garden and the access road have been listed to historical monuments since 1996 and labeled Houses of the Illustrators and Heritage of the 20th century.

Jean Giono led a simple life there with his wife Élise and their two daughters, Aline and Sylvie. He transformed the Mediterranean garden into an oasis of greenery, planting palm trees, laurels, apricot trees, khakis and vineyards, and developing a pond and a fountain. This place became a space of creation and encounters, welcoming friends such as painters Bernard Buffet and Lucien Jacques, or writer André Gide.

Since 1972, the house, now uninhabited, houses the headquarters of the association Les Amis de Jean Giono, founded by Henri Fluchère and Aline Giono. It is open to the public for guided tours, allowing to discover the universe of the writer. The site is also referenced in the Mérimée base and highlighted by the city of Manosque.

The house is described in the book Jean Giono in Manosque: The Parais, the house of a dreamer (2012), written by Sylvie Giono. This book traces the history of the place and its importance in the life and work of the author.

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