En un regard
Le château en bref
Roquemartine is the name of a former castrum in the commune of Eyguières (Bouches-du-Rhône). Its ruined castle, known as the "castellas de Roquemartine" or "Queen Jeanne's castle", dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. It belonged to the d'Albe or d'Aube family. From the outside, the Château de Roquemartine is reminiscent of the Château des Baux. It stands atop high, bare cliffs whose grassy slopes are grazed by flocks of sheep. Below the castle is the church of Saint-Sauveur, once the parish church of the village of Roquemartine, which was attached to the commune of Eyguières in 1805.
Together, the castle and church form an original landscape perched on a spur overlooking the Roquemartine plain. The site was registered as a historic monument in 1926.
During the crisis that followed the death of Queen Joanna I, the community of Roquemartine joined the Union of Aix (1382–1387), supporting Charles of Durazzo against Louis I of Anjou. It was even among the most loyal members, maintaining its support after Aix had surrendered.
In 2022, the Castellas de Roquemartine was chosen to represent the Bouches-du-Rhône department by the Fondation du patrimoine and received support from the Loto du patrimoine to fund its restoration and the opening of the site to the public once the ruins have been made safe.