Culturespaces, Representative for Château Des Baux-De-Provence

CONTENTS

Culturespaces, representative for the Château des Baux-de-Provence...... 3

A great medieval site in Provence ...... 4

A turbulent past ...... 7

Events in 2018 ...... 10

The action of Culturespaces at the Château des Baux-de-Provence ...... 11

The Culturespaces Foudation ...... 15

Practical information ...... 16 © S. Lloyd CULTURESPACES, REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHÂTEAU DES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE

With more than 25 years of experience and 3 million visitors every year, Culturespaces is the leading private organisation managing French monuments and museums, and one of the leading European players in cultural tourism.

Culturespaces produces and manages, with an ethical and professional approach, monuments, museums and prestigious historic sites entrusted to it by public bodies and local authorities.

Are managed by Culturespaces:

- l’Atelier des Lumières, Paris (en 2018) - le Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris (since 1996) - le Musée Maillol, Paris (since 2016) - Hôtel de Caumont Centre d’Art, Aix-en-Provence (since 2015) - la Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (since 1992) - Carrières de Lumières, Baux-de-Provence (since 2012) - Château des Baux-de-Provence (depuis 1993) - Roman Theatre and Art and History Museum of Orange (since 2002) - Nîmes Amphitheatre, the Maison Carrée, the Tour Magne (since 2006) - Cité de l’Automobile, Mulhouse (since 1999)

Aware that our heritage must be preserved for future generations, Culturespaces contributes every year to financing restoration programmes for the monuments and collections it has been entrusted to look after. More generally, Culturespaces is responsible for upgrading spaces and collections, welcoming the general public, managing staff and all services, organising cultural activities and temporary exhibitions and promoting sites at national and international level, with efficient and responsible management methods certified ISO 9001.

To ensure that visits are always a pleasure, the Culturespaces teams place quality of reception and cultural enrichment at the heart of all their services to visitors.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 3 A GREAT MEDIEVAL SITE

A medieval fortified settlement, the citadel of Les Baux included the Château and its village. The tour takes us to unexpected places.

As far as the eye can see

“Bau”, in Provencal, means «rocky escarpment». Perched on this rocky outcrop, the Château appears an eternal landmark. These stone ruins look out over a breathtaking view. At the very heart of the Alpilles, the Camargue and Provence stretch into the distance: to the east lies the Entreconque valley, to the west the Fontaine valley. At any time of year, the light dances playfully on this giant mass of rock and skips across the countryside creating a wonderful display of colour. The Tour de Brau

Formerly the Hotel de Glandevès, this listed building dates from the end of the 14th century. In the 15th century, as a gift from King René, it became the property of the powerful Tour de Brau family (lou brau meaning «the wild bulls»). Inside, visitors can see the superbly furnished low room. The vault ribs are decorated, at the keystones, with coats of arms bearing the famous sixteen-pointed star of the Les Baux family. Two models show how the Château would have looked in the 13th century and in the Renaissance. The Tour de Brau house contains a medieval shop. The Chapel of Saint-Blaise and the cemetery

The Chapel of Saint Blaise, close to the Tour de Brau House, was built in the 12th century by the guild of wool carders and cloth weavers. Today, the Chapel is the setting for a new film : “An aerial view of Provence”. Opposite the Chapel, the cemetery overlooks the Val d’Enfer [Hell Valley] with ruins of old quarries where only the vast porticos remain and cast macabre and fantastical shadows. Steeped in charm and legends, this is the final resting place of the Provencal painter, Yves Bayer and the poet, André Suarès (1868-1948), a friend of André Gide, Paul Claudel and Charles Péguy.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 4 Quiqueran Hospital, the old windmill and the statue of Charloun Rieu

The Quiqueran Hospital was built between 1542 and 1583 under the patronage of Jeanne de Quiquéran, wife of Honoré des Martins, Governor of Les Baux. Later renamed «Hôtel Dieu et charité des Baux», it did not close until 1787.

The Windmill is one of those which inspired Alphonse Daudet in his work Les lettres de mon Moulin. Only the tower remains today.

At the top, on a promontory, there stands a statue of Charles Rieu (1846 – 1924), “Charloun dou Paradou”, a Provencal poet and bard of Les Baux, author of regional songs published in 1897. His stony eyes gaze out forever over the stunning landscape extending before him, from the Alpilles to the Berre lagoon.

The Saracen Tower

Located at the top of a rocky foothill, it blocks off the Château at the south and, together with the Bannes Tower, prevents access through the “de l’Auro” Gate, the North Wind Gate. It was intended to provide a warning of the return of the Saracens. These buildings are part of an ingenious system of defence designed to mislead intruders thinking they could penetrate the Château only to be repelled at the fortress walls. False gateways and the lie of the land were therefore used to deceive assailants.

The Château Chapel

The Château chapel is at the entrance to the Château. The chapel was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary but has been dedicated to Saint Catherine since the 16th century. Reworked, the chapel today has rib-vaulted bays with wall ribs, liernes and tiercerons but has still preserved its Roman structures which are the oldest remains visible in the Château today.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 5 The Château

At the heart of the citadel lies the Château des Baux. Its keep constitutes the best example of this military architecture. Anchored in the rock since the 12th century, it seems to be the last bastion of this impregnable fortress. Decorative vestiges adorn the high walls: ornate sculpted friezes show Saint Michael slaying the dragon, a griffon, etc. At the base of the keep is a Gallo-Roman votive stele; the mysterious relief of the Trémaié (or Three Marys), where the faithful believed they could see the effigies of the Virgin, Mary Jacobé and Mary Salomé.

Forgotten colour

An inventory drawn up in 1426, after the death of Alix, the last Lord of Les Baux, gives a unique, precise description of the interior decoration of Château des Baux. The Château was magnificently decorated at the time. Each room had a name: the Rose Room, The Bishop of Tortose Room, etc. and tapestries hung on the stone walls with the coats of arms of Les Baux, Orange and Toulouse recounting the legends of Alexander and Olivier.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 6 A TURBULENT PAST

A legendary name In the 10th century, when the Christian order was imposed throughout the western world, Manassès, Archbishop of Arles, an intransigent and authoritarian prelate, surrounded himself with some clever and devoted men to establish his power. Amongst them was Isnard, to whom he gave the Baux valley as thanks for his loyalty. A castle was then built on the rocky escarpment. Little by little, these ambitious lords accumulated land and honours. They were formidable and obeyed only the law of excess. In fact, the princes of Les Baux claimed to be the descendants of one of the three magi, Balthazar. In recognition of the star, which had guided them, the magi sanctified the star: Saint Estelle. This is why it features on the coat of arms of the lords of Les Baux, who took as their motto “Al Azar, Balthazar” (By chance, Balthazar). “The first by their ancient name and splendour – Of the Provencal families – Race of eaglets, never vassals – Which with the tips of their wings – Brush against all the high peaks.” This is how the legendary family of Les Baux are referred to at the start of the Calendal by the writer, Frédéric Mistral.

Some illustrious characters In the turbulent history of the seigneury, some symbolic figures stand out: Raymond des Baux waged the Baussenque wars for almost twenty years (from 1145 to 1162), fighting the Count of Barcelona for the earldom of Provence. Raymond de Turennes was an obedient lord for a long time: He fought in Flanders for the King of France and in Italy for the Pope. But suddenly he revolted against the powers that be and became “the scourge of Provence”, a cynical and cruel lord, defying the court of France and papal power. He was condemned to death and excommunicated. Making light of these sentences, this invincible brigand surrounded himself with pillagers attacking towns and villages spreading fire and death. Finally, Alix des Baux, the last and only heir to the lands of Les Baux. On his death, in 1426, this turbulent line of the lords of Les Baux came to an end. The Château survived a few more years until its destruction in 1483.

Rebels but courtiers In the 12th and 13th centuries in Provence, a new institution called chivalry was established. Knights, who were strong, took an oath to use their swords only to defend the weak. They swore to preach God’s peace and to respect women, clerics and peasants. Great importance was now placed on culture provided by the troubadours who weaved their way across Provence. The glory of Les Baux-de-Provence is associated with its poets, musicians and singers who introduced a little humanity in these times of war. The lords took part in this game and the poetic sparring. These rugged men of arms were happy to compose or listen to pastoral poetry, tensons (satirical couplets), ballads, sirventès, or songs. They would woo the beautiful ladies in the Courts of Love, a form of gallant entertainment where these ladies would pass judgement on matters of gallantry and disputes about love and would award prizes for Provencal poetry. Time was divided in the 12th century between riding out to war and courtly festivals. The troubadours and their ladies created a new code of values which introduced a taste for song and dance into the courts of the Midi. The lady being courted was always a married woman. The secret between the two of them, shared by the messenger and the look-out, was the very basis of courtly love. However, there was also room for anxiety due to the slanderers - jealous, malicious people, ready to tell the husband about the poet and his lady.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 7 In their poetic songs (la canso), troubadours, who were writers and performers, glorified fine love, love for the lady, which was seen as a way of perfecting the soul and heart of the knight. They would sing for a long time about the young girls of the lords of Les Baux called Azalaïs, Douce, Fanette and Passerose, first names which are still found today in Provence.

Destruction Alix de Baux, the sole heir to the fiefdoms of Les Baux, left his lands to a distant relative, the Duke of Andria. However, following sieges and wars, the seigneury fell to René d’Anjou. In 1481, on the death of “Good King René”, the last count of Provence, les Baux became part of the Kingdom of France. Louis XI destroyed the citadel. The seigneury was then transformed into a barony and given, by way of reward, to the loyal servants of the Kings of France. The most famous of those being Constable Anne de Montmorency, a childhood friend of François I. He restored the ruined Château and introduced Italian Renaissance architecture to Provence. He resisted a dangerous invasion attempt by Charles-Quint and had the Treasury archives transferred to the citadel from Aix, where they were under threat from the Emperor’s troops. However, the wars of religion soon posed a threat to this ephemeral peace and Les Baux, which had become a bastion of Protestantism under the Manville family, was then viewed with suspicion by the King’s representatives.

The lassitude of Richelieu Involved in a revolt led by Gaston d’Orléans against his brother, Louis XIII, the city of Les Baux again came under siege. Richelieu decided to annihilate this hotbed of revolt. He called the Baron of Les Baux, Antoine de Villeneuve, a favourite of Gaston d’Orléans, to court and, during his absence, gave the order to lay siege to the town. In spite of being heroically defended for 27 days, the gates finally opened and the ramparts were brought down. The high walls were destroyed by powder and pickaxe. The proud citadel of Les Baux finally submitted to the throne. Established as a marquisate, the fiefdom of Les Baux was given to the Grimaldi princes by way of thanks for driving the Spanish from Monaco. France did not buy back the province until 1791.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 8 The calm before another storm Suffering from the loss of its political and military status, the village of Les Baux saw its population diminish, and the deserted citadel became no more than a “dead city”. Only the great Provencal poets, such as Frédéric Mistral and Alphonse Daudet, still defended these fascinating ruins.

It was not until 1821 that the citadel of Les Baux would emerge from oblivion. A scientific discovery attracted attention to this town, which had become a village: a chemist called Berthier found a red rock in the area, which could be used to produce aluminium. He called it “bauxite”.

In 1945, the opening of the famous restaurant “L’Oustau de Baumanière” by Raymond Thuillier, Mayor of Les Baux from 1971 to 1993, attracted heads of state, artists and celebrities. Their arrival marked the rediscovery of Les Baux by the general public, aware of the unique character of the place.

Since 1992, Château des Baux has been a hive of activity with excavation and restoration programmes making it even more attractive.

In 1993, the District of Les Baux-de-Provence decided to call on Culturespaces to develop and manage Château des Baux.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 9 EVENTS IN 2018

31 mars, 1er et 2 avril Fêtez Pâques aux Baux-de-Provence ! Symbole de vie et de Renaissance, l’oeuf est HISTOIRE D’OEUFS associé à la fête de Pâques depuis 2 millénaires. Le temps d’un week-end, venez découvrir toutes les légendes qui entourent cette tradition populaire. Au programme : jeux de piste, animations, conférences et démonstrations… histoire de passer un bon moment en famille. Chasse aux oeufs le dimanche 1er avril.

Weekends, bank holidays and school holidays from En complément du parcours de visite, vivez des 14 April to 31 August animations retraçant l’histoire du Château des Baux- de-Provence du Xe au XXIe siècle. Partez pour une « LES ESTIVALES » OF THE CASTLE riche épopée qui vous emmène du Moyen-Âge au raffi nement de la Renaissance, jusqu’aux poètes fébriles du XIXe siècle. Ce parcours se poursuit à la rencontre des artistes et célébrités due XX siècle, autour de Picasso, Cocteau, Clergue, la famille de Monaco...

1er mai - 30 septembre Lucien Clergue (1934-2014), photographe, rencontre Pablo Picasso en 1953. Leur amitié durera jusqu’à PICASSO EN PLEIN AIR sa mort en 1973 et lui permettra d’assister à des PAR LUCIEN CLERGUE moments d’intimité privilégiée de la vie du peintre et de sa famille. Cette exposition présente une sélection de ces photographies de Pablo Picasso, dans l’intimité et en Provence.

Du 29 octobre au 3 novembre 1000 ans d’histoire, mille ans de musique. Réécoutez la douce musique des Baux, féérie LES AUTOMNALES : LA MUSIQUE musicale et baroque, en suivant les nombreuses partitions qui y ont été jouées : musique médiévale, artisans luthiers, symphonies guerrières et mélopées contemporaines !

From 22 December to 6 January 2019 Celebrate Christmas in the mysterious atmosphere of the Château des Baux. Stories and legends, songs CHRISTMAS IN PROVENCE and traditional music, a crib and hymns. Enjoy all the pleasures of a Provençal Christmas at the Château with your family and loved ones.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 10 THE ACTION OF CULTURESPACES AT THE CHÂTEAU DES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE

Since 1993, the work of Culturespaces has resulted in the :

Opening our doors all year round, 7 days a week

Creation of a the tour layout and a new informative signage

Setting up the illustrated tour In 24 illustrations, visitors can see Château des Baux-de-Provence as it was in the Middle Ages. Just like a big history book, the illustrations breathe life into the various parts of the building, such as Quiqueran Hospital, the windmill, the lower courtyard, the keep by reconstructing scenes from battles or everyday life. The illustrated tour takes visitors back to the 13th and 15th centuries and enables young and old alike to imagine life at the heart of this impressive medieval stronghold.

Creation of a free audio guide service Audioguides, which explain the history of the Château, are available in 10 languages (French, English, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and Japanese). The audioguide tells us about the history of Provence and takes us back to the times of knights, rebel lords, wars, tournaments and damsels in distress.

Installation of a gift shop The gift shop at the Château des Baux-de-Provence extends your journey into the heart of the Middle Ages, to the time of knights and fortresses. Here you will find a wide choice of books, postcards, DVDs, ornaments and jewellery inspired by the Middle Ages and Provence. A range of personalised objects will also give you an original souvenir of your visit to the Château. Miniatures, weapons made of wood and scale models mean that children can replay original battle scenes and relive the joys of firing a catapult.

Creation of a reception service With its untamed beauty and magnificent views, Château des Baux-de-Provence offers an outstanding and unforgettable setting for weddings or private receptions up to 1000 guests. Contact : [email protected]

Animations scheduled from April to August From April to August, the Estivales festival invites visitors to travel back in time by taking part in various activities: catapult and crossbow shooting, and by meeting craftsmen: stonemasons, blacksmith etc.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 11 Creation and production of a film:“ An aerial view of Provence” The film, on the Chapelle St Blaise, presents the most beautiful monuments and landscape of Provence. Accompanied by violins playing Mozart’s Concerto number 21, the visitors can fly over the tops of the Alpilles at the edge of the Luberon and discover the Rhône Valley with its rocky outcrops, grand historic monuments and the most beautiful villages perched.

Creation of siege machines in operation Culturespaces proposes a dynamic visit with spectacular animations. Every day, from april to september, the trebuchet, couillard and bricole catapults are in working order and fire real projectiles to the fascination of spectators.

The biggest trebuchet in France. As powerful as it was accurate, with a range of 200 metres, it could fire a 50 to 100 kg load of boulders using its lever system. Weighing 7 tonnes, 60 soldiers were required to install and man it. The trebuchet at Château des Baux-de-Provence is a unique model, equipped with a wheel system in contrast to more basic trebuchets with a winch system.

The couillard couillard (14th (14th – – 16th 16th century). century). This This counterweight counterweight machine machine consisted consisted of of two articulatedarticulated hutches,hutches, whichwhich mademade it it easier easier to to operate operate by bydividing dividing the the loads loads to to be handledhandled intointo two. two. This This machine’s machine’s performance performance enabled enabled it toit tocompete compete against against powder artillery forfor aa longlong timetime duedue toto its its rate rate of of fire fire and and the the small small numbernumber of of men neededmen needed to operate to operate it (4 toit (48 men). to 8 men).

The bricole (12th(12th century)century) is is a a medieval medieval piece piece of of artillery. artillery. Consisting Consisting of ofa levera lever with awith pocket a pocket containing containing projectiles projectiles at the atend the of it,end the of it,bricole the bricolewas operated was operated by pulling theby pullingother end the of other the endlever, of with the traction lever, with facilitated traction by facilitated adding a counterweight. by adding a Thiscounterweight. formidable This siege formidable machine couldsiege machinefire a 10 could to 30 fire kg rocka 10 toevery 30 kgminute. rock every During displays,minute. During visitors displays, can fire visitors the bricole can firethemselves. the bricole themselves.

Introductory workshops to medieval art, based on the themes of water and the wind for kindergarten- level children, heraldry and coats of arms for primary school children, and architecture for secondary school students.

Creation of special offers for groups Numerous programmes designed for groups are available: guided tours, tickets combined with other Culturespaces or regional sites to discover all the unmissable locations. Groups with a reservation also benefit from numerous advantages like free tickets for the driver and guide.

Implementation of an active communications policy Culturespaces organises all the media planning for each new cultural event. A range of media are used to reach the different target audiences: city posters (underground, bus, flagpoles), radio and TV broadcasting, advertising in the press and online, articles in the regional and national press, etc.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 12 Creation of the website www.chateau-baux-provence.com As with all the museums and monuments in the network, Culturespaces has designed an ergonomic, dynamic website incorporating all the latest multimedia devices (videos, visit guide for downloading, etc). The Château’s website receives 75 100 visitors per year.

Creation of an iPhone/iPad and Android application Culturespaces develops new generation tools for visit. The visitors discover the history of the castle through a state-of-the-art tool thanks to a guide of visit.

Creation of a Facebook page Follow all the information and updates of the Château des Baux-de-Provence on its Facebook page (more than 4 200 fans).

Creation of a games book for children with two new mascots Given free of charge to every child on arrival at the site, this amusing new tool has been devised to enable children from 7 to 11 to discover the castle. Hugo and Lea, two mischievous children, accompany young visitors as they discover the site via amusing activities, games and enigmas.

Launch of the Culturespaces online store : www.boutique-culturespaces.com © La Petite Boîte-Ariane Delrieu Since 2013, Internet users can find all the derivative products developed by Culturespaces which is pursuing its policy for innovation by enriching its offering and adapting to the new practices of its audience. The e-store offers more than 710 articles selected from the offerings in all the Culturespaces museum, historical monument and cultural site stores, including the Château des Baux-de-Provence.

Result of Culturespaces initiatives

In 2016, the Château des Baux welcomed 270 000 visitors. It is one of the most popular sites to visit in Provence.

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 13 THE CULTURESPACES FOUNDATION

Established in 2009, the purpose of the Culturespaces Foundation is to encourage children from disadvantaged areas and those who are ill, in hospital or handicapped to become aware of the arts and their cultural heritage.

Convinced that the discovery of historical monuments and museums is an excellent way of gaining access to culture, the Culturespaces Foundation distinguishes itself by the creation of made-to-measure educational programs before, during and after the visit.

Based on the involvement of specialists in the field of disadvantaged and sick children, the Foundation creates specially designed tools for each group of children to promote the uniqueness of the experience of a visit to a museum or monument.

In particular, the Foundation collaborates with the Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, the Amphitheatre of Nîmes, the Roman Theatre at Orange, les Carrières de Lumières at Les Baux-de-Provence and the Hôtel de Caumont Art Centre in Aix in Provence.

Lasting partnerships have been established with childcare facilities: social centres, paediatric hospitals, institutes and priority schools. In 2017, 3,000 children benefited from the Foundation’s projects.

The initiatives of the Culturespaces Foundation are funded through the support of individual donors, companies and corporate foundations.

www.fondation-culturespaces.com

Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 14 PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Château des Baux-de-Provence RATES 13 520 Les Baux-de-Provence Tél : +33 4 90 54 55 56 With special activities (April to August) Fax : +33 4 90 54 55 00 Full rate: 10,50 € / reduced rate: 8,50 € For more informations: Without special activities (October to March) Full rate : 8,50 € / reduced rate : 6,50 € [email protected] Reduced rate for children from 7 to 17, students, www.chateau-baux-provence.com teachers and job-seekers. OPENING TIMES Free for children under 7 years old, journalists and employed in the tourist trade.

Open all year long. Pass Provence (Château des Baux-de-Provence + January, February, November, December: Carrières de Lumières + musée Brayer) : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. With activities : 18 € (FR) / 14,5 € (RR) March, October : 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Without activities : 16 € (FT) / 12,5 € (RR) April, May, June, September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Family offer (2 adults + 2 kids 7-17 years old) July, August : 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. With activities : 33 €

ACCESS Without activities : 26 €

Groups By car: Motorways A7 (Avignon exit), A9 (Nîmes) or Adults (min 20 people) A54 (Les Baux-de-Provence). 8,50 € with special activities (April to August) By train: Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Arles train 6,50 € without special activities (October to March) stations Schools (min 20 students) By plane: Nîmes, Marseille, Avignon airports 5,50 € with special activities (April to August) 4,50 € without special activities (October to March) Educational workshops: 16 € per children

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Press kit - Château des Baux-de-Provence I 15