Château de Lauris, château fort français situé à Lauris
Château de Lauris is a castle perched on a rocky outcrop in the center of the village of Lauris in Provence. The main structure was built in the 18th century but incorporates vaulted medieval cellars and stone doorways from earlier times. The estate features seven terraced gardens descending the hillside, including a conservatory that grows around 250 plant species used historically for dyes and natural colors.
A medieval fortress once stood on this site, but the castle was rebuilt beginning in the 1730s after destruction. It underwent modifications throughout the 1800s and was reworked in the 1960s by architect Pierre Broise to adapt it for new purposes while maintaining its historic character.
Château de Lauris holds significance for the village as a visible connection to its past. Visitors walk through gardens and terraces designed centuries ago, experiencing how the space continues to link people with local history and the surrounding landscape.
The castle interiors are closed to the public as it is now municipal property and protected as a historical monument, but the exterior terraces and gardens are accessible for walking. The elevated position provides wide views of the surrounding valley and landscape, making it suitable for leisurely exploration at your own pace.
The conservatory on one of the terraces grows plants historically used to produce natural dyes, a craft that shaped the region for centuries but is now largely forgotten. With about 250 plant species dedicated to this purpose, it is one of few places where visitors can see how communities once extracted colors from living plants.
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