Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée départemental des faiences de La Tour-d'Aigues is located in the restored rooms of the Château de La Tour-d'Aigues, in Vaucluse (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). This museum is entirely dedicated to Provencal faience, with collections from local and regional factories, such as Moustiers, Marseille or Seals. Although the museum is currently closed, the castle courtyard remains accessible to visitors, and exhibitions are arranged by appointment. The building, classified as a historical monument since 1984, has been owned by the Vaucluse departmental council since 1987.

At the end of the 16th century, between 1570 and 1580, Jean-Louis-Nicolas de Bouliers, owner of the castle, undertook works to transform it into a Renaissance residence. He entrusted François Auriol with the realization of a polychrome earthenware pavement, which led to the creation of a local earthenware in a nearby bastide. These pavements, rediscovered during excavations between 1976 and 1980, testify to the historical importance of earthenware in this region.

The castle, originally built in the 14th century by the Agoult family around a medieval tower, underwent several changes, notably during the Renaissance. A victim of an accidental fire at the French Revolution, it fell partially in ruins before being restored in the 20th century. Today, it houses not only the museum, but also exhibitions, concerts and a specialized library. The collections include 18th and 16th century pieces, models of earthenware furnaces, and hundreds of tiles and fragments from archaeological excavations.

The museum's flagship elements include the remains of the original decoration of the castle, as well as objects from the production of the Baron de Bruny, whose Memoirs d'Agriculture (1787) document manufacturing techniques. These collections illustrate the evolution of ceramic techniques in Provence and the central role of La Tour-d'Aigues in this artisanal history.

The museum showcases pieces from major production centres such as Delft or Seals, while preserving lots of local objects in faience. These elements, combined with archives and reconstitutions (such as the drawing of the 16th century polychrome pavement), offer a complete panorama of Provencal earthenware, from its manufacture to its decorative use in noble homes.

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