The Château de la Calade is located in the hamlet of Puyricard, north of the town of Aix-en-Provence.
It takes its name from pavements and bridges laid out in the Middle Ages to allow traffic.
The castle was built in 1632 on the edge of the Cours de la Touloubre on behalf of Jérôme de Duranti, then advisor to the Provence court of accounts. However, the architectural style evokes the Renaissance rather than the century of classicism. If two of the four exterior towers were demolished during the Revolution, inside, the plasterwork decorations are inspired by the fashion in force in the mansions of Aix-en-Provence.
Later, wallpapers were installed dating from the First Empire, in particular in the living room on the first floor which is decorated with a "panoramic view of the Jardins de Bagatelle". This is one of the first examples of panoramic wallpaper in France. Draperies in the shape of trompe-l'oeil are also visible.
Both the castle and the park are protected as historical monuments. The estate, which has belonged to the same family for centuries, is only open to the public very occasionally: visits organized by an association, contact on +33 1 83 96 15 05. Otherwise, the castle and its exteriors can be observed during a free or guided walk in this part of town. Information on 04 42 161 161.
