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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Arlatan-Lauris hotel, located at 24 rue de l'Opéra in Aix-en-Provence, is a private hotel built between 1685 and the 18th century. He was commissioned by Sextius d'Arlatan de Montaud, king's adviser to the Parliament of Provence, and adopted a rare plan, distributed through two streets (rue de l'Opéra and rue du Maréchal-Joffre), with a central garden. Its architecture is inspired by the nearby Grimaldi-Régusse hotel, built in 1675 by Louis Cundier, the father of architect Balthazar Cundier, who designed the plans of the hotel of Arlatan.

The interior decorations, among the most remarkable in Provence, include gypsumseries from the 17th and 18th centuries: Regency style (1730-1735) on the ground floor and Louis XV style (1745-1750) on the floor. The noble salons, on the street side of the Opera, contrast with the communes (Hotel de Dreux-Brézé), built on pre-existing buildings and enhanced in the 18th century. The original entrance door, carved by Bernard Toro (known as Toro) in Louis XV style, decorated with garlands and mascarons, was transferred to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in 1907.

The hotel had several owners, including the Lubières and Bonnecorse families, before being classified as a Historic Monument in 1983. In the 1990s he was looted (theft of chimneys, hangings, fountains) before restoration. Its monumental staircase, with a Louis XVI ramp and grotesque masks, as well as its gardens (pre-invented as "remarkable"), were partially used for the film Le Hussard on the roof (1995).

The ensemble illustrates the town planning in Aix of the seventeenth century, marked by straight streets and aristocratic hotels. The Villeneuve district, where it is located, reflects the expansion of the city under the Old Regime, with residences combining prestige (decorated lounges) and functionality (commons, carrosses). The gypsies, classified, bear witness to the know-how of the provençal artisans, while the 18th century transformations (balcony, window doors) reveal the evolution of architectural tastes.

Today, a private residence not open to the public, the Arlatan-Lauris hotel remains a major example of the civil heritage of Aix, despite past deteriorations. Its history combines aristocratic fascists (receptions, sumptuous decorations) and modern vicissitudes (abandonment, protection, rehabilitation), highlighting the challenges of preserving historical monuments in France.

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