Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Domaine des Treilles extends over the communes of Tourtour and Flayosc, in the Var (Provence-Alpes-Côte d Whilst the French Riviera). Acquired and transformed between 1960 and 1980 by Anne Gruner Schlumberger, heir of the Schlumberger dynasty, it became a meeting place for researchers and artists. The eponymous foundation, created to promote science, literature and the arts, houses a collection of modern art (Brauner, Ernst, Takis) and intellectual residences. The estate, labeled Heritage of the 20th century (2000) and then Remarkable Contemporary Architecture, has also been listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments since 2009.

The architectural project, entrusted to Pierre Barbe and landscaper Henri Fisch, rehabilitates or builds a dozen houses in Provencal style integrated into the landscape. Four phases mark the works: restoration of existing buildings (1960-1963, such as the Gisclard House), reconstruction of the grand mas en Grande Maison (1965-1968, with library), creation of Barjeantane (1968-1970, future Jean Schlumberger Centre), and construction of the last houses (1978-1985, including the Atelier and the Maison des Chênes). Local materials and references to antiquity (patios, Roman remains) stand alongside modern functionalism.

The 300-hectare estate, 600 m above sea level, combines traditional crops (vines, olive trees, lavender) and natural areas (forests, green oaks). Three landscape levels structure the site: close gardens around houses, intermediate perspectives, and distant panoramas. Integrated works of art, such as the sculptures of Takis (Jardin des Sondes, 1986) and Ernst, interact with relief and vegetation. A hydrogeological study (BRGM, 1974) and archaeological excavations (1978) revealed protohistoric and medieval vestiges, including Calamantran's oppidum, adding a historical dimension to the site.

The Foundation of Treilles perpetuates the legacy of Anne Gruner Schlumberger by organizing seminars and exhibitions. The estate, classified in the Agricultural Historical Monument sector (90 ha in Tourtour), enjoys a protection perimeter of 500 m. Although tourism projects were mentioned in the Flayosc LRP, the agricultural and natural vocation of the prime site, preserving its balance between built heritage, art and environment.

The archaeological site of Arquinaut, on the hill of Calamantran, attests to a continuous human occupation since the Bronze Age. A Cistercian abbey could have existed there in the Middle Ages, and the chapel Notre-Dame-de-Florièye (XIXth century) perhaps perpetuates its memory. The Florieye River, taking root near the estate, crosses a medieval bridge before confluence with the Argens, strengthening the link between natural and human history of the place.

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