Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hôtel de Châteauneuf, also known as Hotel Dedons de Pierrefeu or Guillibert, is a private hotel located at 14 rue Mazarine in Aix-en-Provence. Although its initial construction probably dates back to the first half of the 17th century for the family of Châteauneuf, it was completely rebuilt and transformed in the middle of the 18th century by Esprit Dedons de Pierrefeu, knight of Saint Louis and Marshal of the Camps and Armies of the King. The latter gave it its present appearance, marked by elegant architecture and carved decorations.

In 1783 and 1784, the hotel welcomed Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, brother of Marie-Antoinette, who came to "take the water" in Aix. In the 19th century, he changed hands several times: bought in 1803 by the Countess of La Tour du Pin, then in 1841 by Louis de Clapiers, before being acquired by Baron Hippolyte Guillibert, a felibre and batonier of the Bar Association. Under his property, the hotel became a meeting place for Provencal literary figures such as Frédéric Mistral, Folco de Baroncelli-Javon and Joseph d'Arbaud.

Ranked historic monument in 1929 for its north and south facades decorated with mascarons attributed to the sculptor Jean-Pancrace Chastel, as well as for its wrought iron ramp of the eighteenth century, the hotel now houses a private condominium. Its 19th century stained glass windows and its main door flanked by ionic pilasters bear witness to its rich architectural past. Although not open to the public, it remains a symbol of the Aix and Provencal heritage.

The protected elements include the two facades and the stair ramp, listed in the inventory of historical monuments since March 25, 1929. The hotel illustrates the evolution of private hotels in Aix, moving from aristocratic residences to bourgeois places of life, while preserving traces of cultural movements such as the felibrige.

External links