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Origin and history

The Simiane hotel, also known as Simiane Castle, is a private hotel built in Valréas, Vaucluse. Commanded in 1639 by Louis de Simiane, seigneur of Truchenu and d'Esparron, he replaced an older house razed for the occasion. The original plans were designed by François de Royers de la Valfenière, an avignon architect, while the works were led by Bernard Moureau, a Cavaillonese mason who also worked on the Episcopal Palace of Carpentras. A second phase of construction was launched in 1640, but the southern wing was not completed until 1780 by François II Franque, another renowned architect of the region.

The interior decor, especially that of the large hall, evokes the marriage of Louis de Simiane around 1620, suggesting a desire for family prestige. In 1823, the building was bought by a local company for 25,000 francs and then rented to the commune to house the town hall, a college and the justice of peace. It was finally acquired by the city only in 1843, during the reign of Louis-Philippe, after a royal ordinance. The college left in 1890, leaving room for the town hall and post office.

Ranked a historic monument on December 1, 1913, the Simiane Hotel retains remarkable architectural elements: a vaulted gate on the ground floor, galleries on the floors, a suspended staircase and vaults in cradle or dome. Today, it serves as a versatile cultural venue, welcoming exhibitions, conferences and workshops, while remaining a symbol of local heritage.

The primitive structure, partially dated from the 14th century, was described as "magnificent" as early as 1456. It included a vaulted passage across the street, always visible, and communicated with another house opposite. The interior transformations of 1843 adapted the space to the needs of the city hall, while preserving traces of painted decorations and carved remplacement windows.

Located in Aristide Briand Square, the building now belongs to the municipality of Valréas. Its history reflects urban and political developments in the region, moving from an aristocratic residence to a central public building. The archives also mention its role in social life, with vaulted rooms in cloister arch or dome, typical of Provencal architecture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

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