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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Boyer de Fonscolombe hotel, also known as the Saporta hotel or Vitrolles hotel, is an iconic mansion in Aix-en-Provence, located at 21 Gaston-de-Saporta Street. Built around 1650 for Charles de Grimaldi, Marquis de Régusse and Speaker of Parliament, it embodies 17th century aristocratic architecture. Its history reflects the social changes of the Provencal nobility, passing into the hands of influential families such as the Forbin or the Boyer de Fonscolombe.

In 1724, the hotel was acquired by the Forbins, lords of La Barben, before being sold in 1743 to the Boyers of Fonscolombe. The latter alter the configuration of the place by reducing the courtyard garden when sharing with the nearby hotel of the Thomassin of Saint Paul. The façade, redesigned in 1757 by architect Laurent Vallon, is distinguished by its clean style: absence of mascarons or pilasters, decoration with splits, and marked cornices. The low arch of the carriage door reinforces this characteristic horizontality.

In the 19th century, the hotel entered the Saporta family by the marriage of Irène Boyer de Fonscolombe, a unique heiress, with Charles Auguste de Saporta in 1822. Their eldest son, Gaston de Saporta, then became its owner. Ranked a historic monument since 29 December 1989, the hotel today retains its architectural character, including the courtyard, the fence wall and a fountain, testimonies of its past prestige.

The building is part of the Aix heritage alongside other private hotels, reflecting the central role of the city as a place of power and residence for the Provencal aristocracy. Its ranking underlines its historical and aesthetic importance, while preserving a remarkable example of the evolution of architectural tastes between Baroque and Neoclassical.

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