Château de la Pioline, Historic castle in Aix-en-Provence, France

Château de la Pioline is a pale yellow stone building in Aix-en-Provence, its symmetrical facade divided by pilasters and pierced by two rows of tall rectangular windows with white frames. A short stair leads to the central stone entrance, and a shallow red tiled roof runs above. Small arched openings sit near the ground, and a round fountain stands in front.

The estate began in 1303 as the Moulin de Verdache, built for its owner, the lord Rodolphe de Verdache. In the 16th century Arnaud de Borilli, treasurer general of the king in Provence, bought it; it hosted Charles V during the 1524 siege of Marseille and later Catherine de' Medici, and Henri III raised the domain to a fief. In the 17th century Renaud de Piolenc, squire of Aix and lord of Cornillon, bought it and altered the facade; in the 18th century the marquis de Meyronnet added two decorated wings and a cour d'honneur with a central fountain. After the Revolution it passed through several hands and was abandoned before an antiques dealer restored it and obtained its classification as a monument historique on 20 January 1976.

The castle houses a Michelin-starred restaurant where Chef Pierre Reboul creates inventive dishes using regional ingredients and modern culinary techniques.

The location operates as a hotel with 17 rooms offering air conditioning and contemporary amenities for guests. Being roughly 3 kilometers from the center of Aix-en-Provence allows easy access to the city while maintaining a quiet setting.

The restaurant features a glass-enclosed dining area with wrought-iron skylights, where guests observe chefs preparing innovative dishes in plain view.