Chateau De Meyrargues

The château is private property and isn’t open to visitors, but its long history is still visible in its walls and setting. The grounds have been a protected site since 1952, and the château’s façades, roofs, terrace, and some interior features, including a large 16th-century fireplace, are listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments. After serving for many years as a prestigious hotel and restaurant, the estate was sold in 2015 to a heritage restoration company. From 2016, it was converted into 26 private apartments, some designated as social housing, while the park was entrusted to the municipality. It began as a defensive site in the valley, probably with a wooden structure during the Carolingian era. The stone fortress took shape in the 10th and 11th centuries on a spur above the village. It belonged first to the powerful Les Baux family, whose debts led them to sell the seigneury to the Count of Provence in 1291. The castle then passed between allies and vassals. In 1442, the fief went to the Neapolitan nobleman Alagonia (Alagonia/Allagonia) for his service to the Counts of Provence during the Italian Wars, and his family held it for two centuries. Jean II Le Meingre, known as Boucicaut, also owned it briefly near the end of the Middle Ages and commissioned renovations from 1406 to 1408. Later owners included the Provençal families Valbelle and Albertas. Its original design was typical of local medieval fortresses, with thick walls and four square towers built directly on the rock. Changes in the 15th and 17th centuries adapted parts of the structure and interior for a more residential, less military way of life. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the château became a noble residence, with its adjoining park and grounds landscaped. Though its interior has since been remodeled, the exterior still has a medieval Provençal look, with plain façades, massive walls, and old stone. Today it remains a living part of Meyrargues, reflecting the shift from medieval stronghold to modern residence.

You can spot this elegant, magnificent castle from far away, and it’s an emblem of the town. Several hiking and mountain biking trails start from here.

The castle has recently been restored, and the site is magnificent, though private. There’s a right of way, and part of the park belongs to the town hall. Please respect the property and avoid disturbing the other owners.

Magnificent castle on a rocky outcrop among the pine trees, looking down over the town.