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Origin and history

The Hotel d'Olivary, also known as Hotel Paradis or Hotel de Silvacane, is a private hotel located at 10 rue du Quatre-Septembre in Aix-en-Provence. Built between 1657 and 1660 by the architect Jean Daret for Claude Paradis, a rich Aixese upholstery merchant, it is a rare example of a fully protected building, including its interior decorations, fireplaces, painted canvases, and its garden with basin. The hotel has been registered for Historical Monuments since 1995 and has been a member of the same family for more than two centuries.

The hotel knew several influential owners: Claude Paradis, then Honoré de Figuière, auditor at the Court of Auditors, before being acquired in 1695 by Pierre de Revest, adviser to the Parliament of Provence. In the 18th century, it passed into the hands of Jean-Baptiste de Pignet-Guelton, and was sold in 1803 to the Marquis d'Olivary. Today, he is detained by Welle's family, heiress of the Olivery.

The hotel's architecture is distinguished by a wrought iron Regency staircase, three enfilade lounges decorated with Lyon gypseries and silks, as well as a first floor with an octagonal boudoir and a Chinese boudoir. The garden, one of the largest in the Mazarin Quarter, has preserved its original layout and centuries-old trees. An in-depth study of the hotel, published in 2015 by Alexandre Mahue, documents its history and scenery.

The protected elements include all interior decorations, such as fireplaces, doortops, paintings, and wallpapers, as well as the garden, basin and fence walls. This comprehensive protection is exceptional for a private hotel in Aix-en-Provence. The building bears witness to the influence of local bourgeois and aristocratic families throughout the centuries.

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