Hôtel de Perrin

Hôtel de Perrin stands on the Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence, one of the most celebrated boulevards in the south of France. At number 46, this 17th-century townhouse forms part of the row of stately mansions that give the avenue its distinctive, monumental rhythm.

The history behind the façade

The mansion was built around the mid-17th century, at the very time the Cours Mirabeau itself was taking shape as the city's grand promenade. Its first owner was Louis de Perrin, third consul of Aix — a position among the highest municipal offices of the era. On his death the house passed to his son, the Chevalier de Perrin, remembered for editing and publishing the letters of Madame de Sévigné in 1734, a landmark work of French epistolary literature.

Ownership changed hands in the 18th century, when the property was acquired by Monsieur de Meyronnet, marquis de Châteauneuf, a councillor of the Parlement of Provence. Late in the 19th century it was purchased by Viscount Albert de Selle, and in the 20th century it passed by marriage to the Inguimbert family.

What you'll see

The façade is built of stone quarried at Bibémus, roughly 5 km east of Aix — the same pale ochre stone that colors many of the city's 17th- and 18th-century mansions. The wall was raised using "blocage" masonry, then finished with a textured render designed to imitate rusticated stonework. The ground-floor window and door openings are decorated with mascarons, carved ornamental masks typical of Provençal architecture of the period.

The building runs roughly 50 meters in length, and its north-facing façade on the Cours Mirabeau measures about 18 meters across — making it one of the more imposing residences on the avenue. Hôtel de Perrin is listed as a protected historic monument, a formal recognition of its architectural and historical value to the city.

Today the building serves a mixed purpose: the upper floors are privately owned residential apartments, while the ground floor houses a Lacoste boutique. The interior is not open to visitors, so seeing the Hôtel de Perrin means appreciating its façade as part of a wider walk along the Cours Mirabeau.

How to get there

Hôtel de Perrin sits directly on the Cours Mirabeau, the main pedestrian artery running through the historic center of Aix-en-Provence. From the Aix-en-Provence TGV station, it's a short bus or taxi ride into town; central car parks are also within walking distance. The Cours Mirabeau links Place de la Rotonde to the Mazarin quarter, so the building is easy to take in while exploring the center on foot.

When to visit

The façade is best appreciated in daylight, when sunlight brings out the ochre tones of the Bibémus stone. The Cours Mirabeau is lively year-round, but spring and autumn tend to make for a more comfortable stroll than the height of summer, when the plane trees lining the avenue provide welcome shade for locals and visitors alike.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of Hôtel de Perrin? No — the building is now in private residential and commercial use, so its interior is not open to the public.

Who commissioned Hôtel de Perrin? It was built for Louis de Perrin, third consul of Aix, in the mid-17th century.

What occupies the ground floor today? A Lacoste clothing boutique, while the floors above are private apartments.

Why does the façade have such a distinctive ochre color? It comes from stone quarried at Bibémus, near Aix, a building material widely used for the city's 17th- and 18th-century mansions.