About the castle de Simiane
Discover its history
The castle of Simiane is built on the remains of an ancient residence that was constructed by the Montauban family in the 13th century. In the 14th century, Hugues Aymeric had the two buildings still visible along the rue de l’Hôtel de ville built.
1639-1640
1639-1640
Construction of the building
The origins of the castle
The main part of the present building was built in 1639-1640 by the Cavaillonnais contractor Bernard Moureau on the plans of the Avignon architect François Royer de la Valfenière for Louis de Simiane (this Avignon architect was responsible for many buildings in the Comtat, notably the bishopric of Carpentras). It was only around 1780 that the symmetry of the composition was completed with the replacement of an old building by the south wing, based on the plans of the Avignon architect Franque, who also drew up the plans for the bishopric of Viviers.
1695-1737
1695-1737
The home of
Pauline de Simiane
The castle was owned by Louis de Simiane and his wife Pauline de Simiane, the granddaughter of the Marquise de Sévigné. It was thanks to the young woman that her grandmother's correspondence was published and made famous throughout the world. The link is therefore direct between the two castles only a few kilometres apart: Grignan, where the Marquise stayed, and Valréas, where her granddaughter resided.
1823-1843
1823-1843
The castle of Simiane becomes a
Property of the state
In 1823, the castle of Simiane housed the college and the Justice of the Peace. It was not until 1843, by order of King Louis Philippe, that the town of Valréas was authorised to buy the said castle of Simiane, which then became the Town Hall of Valréas and the Post Office.
1913
1913
The castle is a listed
