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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Esmivy de Moissac Hotel, also known as the Villars Hotel, is an iconic mansion located at 4 Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence. Built in 1710 by architect Georges Vallon, it embodies 18th century Provencal Baroque architecture. Its imposing carved stone columns, added at the request of the Duke of Villars, mark an affirmation of power over the public space of Aix.

Originally, the hotel was built for Louis d'Esmivy de Moissac, adviser to the Court of Auditors. In 1750, his grandson, captain of the ship and intendant of Guadeloupe, handed him over to the Duke of Villars, Honoré-Armand, governor general of Provence. The latter, a prestigious tenant, placed his emblem on the staircase, now disappeared after a flight in 1980.

The building is distinguished by its adorned staircase and gardens, the whole being classified as a historical monument since 1993. Although private property, it remains a major architectural testimony of the aristocratic influence in Aix-en-Provence, mixing political prestige and baroque art. The facade, with its columns encroaching on the carriageway, symbolizes the Duke's authority over the city.

Historical sources, such as the works of André Bouyala-d'Arnaud or Jean-Luc Massot, underline its importance in the Aix heritage. Ranked with its gate, its walls and its gardens, the hotel also illustrates the urban development of Cours Mirabeau, the central artery of Aix since the 18th century.

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