Château d'Allemagne-en-Provence

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Château d'Allemagne-en-Provence stands on the banks of the Colostre, in the commune of the same name in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Its keep, built in 1218, belonged to the Castellane family, who retained it until 1718. Originally a crenellated stronghold flanked by defensive towers linked by a curtain wall and surrounded by moats, it was converted into a residence from 1495 onwards, when François de Castellane added a Renaissance wing served by a remarkable spiral staircase. The first floor retains a monumental gypsum fireplace dated 1546, decorated with two statues. After the Castellanes, the château passed to the de Varages family (1718–1839), then to the Ripert-Montclar family (1839–1936), before being acquired by the Himmel family, its current owners. The building was listed as a historic monument (classé) by decree of 2 September 1986, as was its park. Now open for guided tours in season, it notably displays a collection of Monaco ceramics assembled from the 19th to the mid-20th century.