Hôtel du Poët, hôtel particulier in Aix-en-Provence, France
Hôtel du Poët is a private mansion located on Place Forbin in the center of Aix-en-Provence and officially protected as a historic monument. The building features three floors with Provençal Baroque styling, including arched doorways, decorative pilasters, and detailed iron balcony railwork from the 18th century.
Built around 1725 on the site of a former water mill, the mansion was originally constructed for Henri Gautier, a notary clerk who later acquired noble status. It served as the Treasury of the Parliament of Provence, storing official documents and funds during the reign of Louis XV.
The house reflects how Aix-en-Provence residents built their homes during the 1700s, blending practical design with refined details that showed wealth and local craftsmanship. The arched doorways and stone work reveal the building techniques and aesthetic choices of its period, visible to anyone passing through the bustling square.
The mansion is privately owned and closed to the public inside, but its facade is fully visible from Place Forbin where you can observe its architecture while walking through the city center. The location is easily accessible on foot and sits along common routes through the historic district.
The building replaced an active water mill that once operated on the same land, marking the town's shift from industrial work sites to grand residential homes for officials and merchants. This transition from mill to mansion shows how Aix-en-Provence's landscape changed as the town became more important administratively.
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