The History of Villa Baulieu
At the heart of a 300-hectare estate, surrounded by sprawling vineyards and pristine gardens, Villa Baulieu is both a jewel of 17th-century architecture and a living monument to the history of art and design. Restored to the glory of days past, this historic Airelles Maison honours a story that stretches back to the earliest history of Provence.
A journey through millennia
The full history of Villa Baulieu is measured not in centuries, but in geological eras – reaching back to when the only volcano in Provence was still active, some 17.5 million years ago. The estate sits atop the mineral-rich basalt rock formed by this volcanic activity, and with its fertile soils the area came to be known as Baulieu – literally, the “beautiful place.”
The vineyards planted here trace their history back at least two millennia to the Greco-Roman era, when the prized wines of Provence were poured into great terracotta amphorae to be traded across the region and throughout the Mediterranean.
From fiefdom to château
The estate as we know it today began life in 1576, when King Henri III established a fiefdom at Baulieu, and a manor (or bastide) was built at the site. Baulieu became the homestead of the Counts of Provence, and several noble families would hang their crests above its door, each one tending to the lands and working to preserve their exceptional terroir.
In 1617 the property was acquired by the Jullien family, who expanded the grounds and began building the stunning, Italian-style villa that still stands today. The magnificent courtyard and white marble fountain were added in the 1780s, while the distinctive towers adorning each corner of the château were added in 1805.
A storied landscape
The spectacular parklands that surround the villa were first designed in the 17th century, their ornate ponds and pathways perfectly embodying the art de vivre so quintessential to Provence. In the 18th century French gardens were laid in the southern section of the park, introducing popular features of the time including a maze, nymphaeum and shaded grotto which can still be enjoyed today.
One of the notable figures whose family once dwelt in the château was Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, a celebrated botanist in the service of the Sun King himself, Louis XIV. As the keeper of the Jardin du roi, Tournefort undoubtedly had a great influence over the gardens at Baulieu, and today his legacy is proudly carried on by both the Villa and the botanical innovations of Jardins Baulieu.
A new Renaissance
As the fortunes of France’s aristocracy wavered, so too did those of the “château de Beaulieu”, and despite its proud history the estate had fallen badly into disrepair by the dawn of the 21st century. Fortunately, in 2001 it was acquired by the Guénant family, who spent the next 15 years painstakingly restoring the château and its grounds to their former splendour.
Under the care of Guénants, the property became the Villa Baulieu, reclaiming its original title and traditional Provençal spelling. As part of the Airelles collection, it’s our privilege to share this exceptional Maison with guests in search of an exclusive Provençal home-from-home — a unique destination that embraces the rich history of Provence that runs deep beneath its foundations.
