Château de Simiane, Castle in the center of Valréas, France
The Château de Simiane is a castle in the center of Valréas, in the Enclave des Papes area of Provence, southern France, that today serves as the town hall. The stone building combines elements from different periods and features a main hall with a painted ceiling, a small domed chapel, and a library holding old documents.
The site dates back to the 13th century, but the current building was constructed around 1640 for Louis de Simiane by the Avignon architect François Royer de la Valfenière on top of older medieval remains. A southern wing was added in the 18th century, and the city of Valréas took ownership in 1843, after which the building served as a school, a court, and a post office before becoming the town hall.
Inside the castle, one room has been set up to recall the time Pauline de Simiane spent here, with objects and references connected to her life. The building also hosts art exhibitions and local events, giving it a role in the daily life of Valréas that goes well beyond its function as a town hall.
The castle sits right in the center of Valréas and can be reached on foot from most parts of town without difficulty. Because it still functions as an active town hall, some areas may not always be open to visitors, so it is worth checking in advance which parts are accessible.
Pauline de Simiane, granddaughter of the celebrated letter writer Madame de Sévigné, lived here and was instrumental in gathering and circulating her grandmother's correspondence after her death. The castle holds over 600 original letters from the 18th century, making it an unusual place to come into contact with that kind of personal written history.
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