PROVENCE
LE CHÂTEAU DES ALPILLES
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Art direction and Text Federica Trotta Mureau
Photography Danilo Falà
A family legacy rooted in time
Just beyond the village of saint-rémy-de-provence, where the alpilles rise like a stone mirage from the land, a tree-lined path leads to a story told in sunlight, silence, and stone. the château des alpilles is more than a hotel, it is a living memory, passed through generations of women who have preserved its soul with quiet devotion.
Le Château des Alpilles.
Once known as the Mas de Gaillard, the estate has deep roots, some say reaching as far back as the 13th century, when a noble knight named Dragonet of Mondragon is said to have lived here with his winged horse. Whether legend or truth, a towering cypress still stands today, centuries old and whispering the tale.
Le Château des Alpilles.
In the early 19th century, Pierre-Paul Blain, a man of vision who made his fortune in Philadelphia, returned to Provence to build a grand maison de maître at the heart of the estate. Surrounded by exotic trees, peaceful fountains, and later a chapel, the home became a gathering place for poets, thinkers, and dreamers. His nephew, the writer Amédée Pichot, welcomed the likes of Chateaubriand, Lamartine, and Thiers, making the château a secret literary salon of the Romantic era.
Le Château des Alpilles.
But time passed, and the estate fell into slumber, hidden beneath the overgrowth. Until 1979, when Françoise Bon and her daughter Catherine fell under its spell. What others saw as decay, they saw as potential. With care and vision, they brought it back to life, not as a museum, but as a place of warmth, welcome, and quiet luxury. A place where guests are received as friends. Today, Catherine’s daughters, Maya and Mathilde, carry the legacy forward. Three generations of women, each adding their voice to the story of this home. The château has expanded gently: an old farmhouse turned into contemporary suites, a chapel reborn as a private cottage, and gardens that still breathe the wild beauty of the past.
Le Château des Alpilles.
There are places where history is told. And then there are places where it is felt, in the texture of the stone, the rustle of leaves, the scent of lavender after rain. Château des Alpilles is one such place. A family’s promise made timeless.
Le Château des Alpilles.
Nestled on the edge of Saint-Rémy- de-Provence
Where timeless landscapes merge with whispers of history, Château des Alpilles stands as a haven where heritage and elegance entwine. It is not merely a place to stay; it is a living canvas, painted by centuries of stories and tender care, a refined homage to Provençal artistry and familial devotion. Here, every stone, every tree breathes an inheritance shaped by time, inviting the discerning traveler to experience a rare harmony between tradition and modern comfort.
