Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Esparron-de-Verdon has its origins at least since 990, with a first mention in the cartular of the abbey of Lérins evoking a castrum Sparronis. This site is part of the Provencal incastellamento movement, marking the creation of grouped and fortified habitats. In the 12th century, the Spata (or Spada) and Esparron families shared the seigneury, before the Castellanes, by alliances and redemptions, became the only owners in the 15th century. The 13th century square tower, an iconic 9-metre-long dungeon with thick walls, symbolizes this medieval period.

Between 1520 and 1540, the castle underwent major changes without altering its defensive functions: the addition of a latrines tower, the insertion of a screw staircase connecting the west and east wings, and the improvement of vertical circulation. These adjustments reflect an adaptation to residential needs while maintaining a military character. In the last quarter of the 18th century, the east wing was restored and modernized with living rooms and rooms, illustrating the transformation of the castle into aristocratic recreational residence.

The donjon, classified as Historic Monument in 1979, embodies the medieval heritage of the site, while the facades and roofs, inscribed in the same year, bear witness to subsequent architectural developments. In 1989, Count Bernard de Castellane-Esparron inherited the castle and converted it into guest rooms with his wife, thus perpetuating his residential and tourist vocation. The remains of the courtesies and houses of the 15th and 17th centuries, as well as the interior decorations (paintings, beams), recall successive renovation campaigns.

The history of the castle is also that of the seigneurial families that were succeeded there: the Spata, coseigneurs in the 13th century with the Esparrons, then the Castellanes, whose Boniface IV pays tribute to the Count of Provence in 1226 for this fief. These dynasties marked the evolution of the site, from its castral function to its present role, combining historical heritage and contemporary hospitality.

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