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Origin and history

The Pavillon de Vendôme, also known as Pavillon de La Molle, is a former mansion located in Aix-en-Provence, built in the 3rd quarter of the 17th century. It was commanded by Louis de Mercœur, Duke of Vendôme, grandson of Henri IV and governor of Provence, on land acquired in 1664. This monument, originally conceived as a country house outside the ramparts, was built according to the plans of Antoine Matisse, dit La Rivière, Parisian architect installed in Arles. The pavilion, with a Mansart roof and an open ground floor for the carriages, became a symbol of the royal authority restored in Provence after the troubles of the Fronde.

Louis de Vendôme, widower of Laure Mancini (Nice of Mazarin), lived there until his death in 1669, in circumstances surrounded by popular rumours evoking his secret connections with Lucrece de Forbin-Solliès, nicknamed "La Belle du Canet". At his death, the pavilion was sold to the Advocate General Gautier de la Molle, who modified it by closing the ground floor, adding a floor and covering it with Roman tiles, then giving it the name Pavillon de La Molle. In the 18th century, it belonged successively to the painter Jean-Baptiste van Loo and Barthélemy-Louis Reboul, secretary of the Academy of Aix.

At the time of the Revolution, the pavilion was confiscated as demigrated property, then bought in 1824 by the bishop of Angoulême to establish a boarding school for young girls, a role he retained throughout the 19th century. In 1906, the Swiss art lover Henri Dobler acquired, undertook restorations and classified the garden and facade in 1914. After his death in 1941, his widow bequeathed the pavilion to the city of Aix-en-Provence, which made it a museum housing exhibitions of contemporary art and photographs since the 1990s.

The Pavillon de Vendôme is a masterpiece of Provencal classical architecture, built in Bibémus stone and adorned with Baroque sculptures, such as the atlantes of Jean-Claude Rambot surrounding the entrance. Its French-style garden, reconstituted after 17th-century engravings, is lined with crenelated walls and decorated with a central fountain. Ranked Historic Monument in 1914 for its facade and garden, then in 1953 for its outbuildings, it illustrates the mix of Parisian and local influences, while at the same time testifying to the social and political history of Aix-en-Provence.

Archaeological excavations on the site revealed ancient remains, including a mosaic and fragments of columns, suggesting an ancient occupation of the site. Today, the pavilion combines historical heritage and cultural dynamics, with temporary exhibitions and a public park open to visitors. Its 18th century staircase of honour, painted ceilings and collections of earthenware from Moustiers make it an emblematic place of the Aixese heritage.

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