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Origin and history

Margarot House, located in Calvisson, is a private hotel built at the end of the 18th century on the site of an oil mill certified in 1542. This mill, originally owned by the Community and the Hospital of the Poor, is described in the archives as bordered by the river to the east and quarries to the west. It was destroyed during the wars of religion, then rebuilt and shared among twelve co-owners in 1664.

In 1766, Claude-Vincent Granier, a wealthy manufacturer of brandy, bought all the mill's shares. Between 1770 and 1776, public works included the widening of the adjacent bridge, mentioning the "gorgues" leading the water to the mill. The current Louis XV style house was built after 1776 in stone, with a central wing and forebody on three levels. His garden, built between 1845 and 1850 by Auguste Maroger (then mayor), borders a covered stream.

The building is distinguished by its wrought ironwork, rich carpentry and remarkable cellars, although its facade model is now degraded. Ranked a historic monument in 2011 to preserve its original elements (stairs, 19th century fence), it suffers from a partial recount of its interior decorations (woodworks, fireplaces). Its U-shaped structure, rounded balconies and curved bays reflect the influence of urban mansions of the time.

The notarial archives and the tax registers of the 16th and 17th centuries document its evolution, from a communal mill to a bourgeois residence. Despite its registration, the house has been on sale for several years because of the high renovation costs. The cellars, wrought iron grilles and stairwell are among the protected elements.

The interior distribution, modified in the 19th century, preserves some original carpentry, such as the back door or the alcove of a room. The building illustrates the civil architecture of the Vaunage, an area marked by the exploitation of the local stone (Careers of Mus or Aigues-Vives), although this material has proved fragile over time.

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