Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de Foresta, also known as the Gastaud Hotel or Hotel de Montéty, is an iconic mansion in Aix-en-Provence, located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Built between 1667 and 1671 by the architect Jean Jaubert, it is distinguished by its twin facade from that of the nearby Ravel d'Esclapon hotel. Its bays are framed with doric capital pilasters on the ground floor and ionic on the first floor, topped with denticulate cornices. A remarkable architectural detail is the oval egg eye integrated into the arcs above the curved doors, surrounded by carved stones waiting for sculpture.

The building was classified as historic monuments on 21 May 1990 for its facades, roofs, staircases and ramp, while the rest of the hotel, including the garden and fountain, was registered on the same date. The hotel housed painter-graveur Jean-Marie de Loustaunau, adding an artistic dimension to his history. The toothed cornice under the roof, supported by crows, and the sculptural details reflect the know-how of the artisans of the time.

The official address of the hotel, according to the Merimée base, is 37 Cardinale Street, although sources also mention an approximate location in place of the 4 Dauphins. These geographical differences highlight the challenges of precision in historical documentation. The hotel remains a major architectural testimony to the urban evolution of Aix-en-Provence, combining classical influences and local adaptations.

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