Le Pavillon de Vendôme, also known as the Pavillon Vendôme is an ancient hôtel particulier, now the Musée du Pavillon de Vendôme-Dobler, situated at 34 rue Célony in Aix-en-Provence. It was constructed in the 17th century by Louis de Mercoeur, the Duke of Vendôme who was the governor of Provence beginning in 1652. He wanted to have a folly outside the city of Aix,  supposedly motivated by his love affair with Lucrèce de Forbin-Solliès, known as the “Belle du Canet”, whom he, a widower, wanted to marry. Louis XIV did not favor this marriage since the Duke’s late wife was the niece of the king’s advisor to court, Cardinal Mazarin, and their marriage would have been considered a misalliance. Since he could not marry her, Mercoeur decided to become the lady’s lover; hence, his ambition to hire the architect, Antoine Matisse to build the pavillion between 1665 and 1667. The historian from Aix-en-Provence, in his book Les Rues d’Aix/ The Streets of Aix published in 1846, stated that the Belle de Canet joined her lover at nightfall, followed by her retinue, all wearing masks. It was reported in his book that the Duc de Vendôme would retire to his pavilion. During the night, disguised persons, whom the locals of the suburbs referred to as les chouettes/”rat pack”entered the back door to join the nightly party. The duke died there on the night of August 6, 1669, causing the locals to think he had been killed. More than likely, the death of the 57-year old duke was caused by his amorous relationships, done in by these exercises. After his death, the pavilion was bought by the president of La Molle, who added interior decorations and a third floor to the building. In the mid-18th century, the painter Jean-Baptiste van loo purchased the pavilion and used the second floor as his studio.  In the following years, the pavillion became the property of Barthélemy-Louis Reboul, secretary of the Academy of Aix. With the French Revolution, the Academy was sold to the Bishop of Angoulême, who gave it to the monks of Sacré-Coeur to establish a school for young girls. It retained this role throughout the 19th century. In 1906, the pavilion was bought by an American amateur artist, Henry Dobler, who restored the building and furnished it in the original style. After his death, the building was willed to the city of Aix-en-Provence to be used as a museum. Today it exhibits contemporary art, installations, and photographs. The building is treasured as a beautiful example of classical provençal architecture. The exterior, divided into three floors, has Doric pilasters on the  ground floor or rez-de-chaussée façade, ionic pilasters superimposed above these on the first floor or premier étage, and composite pilasters on the second floor or duxieme etage at the top of the building.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. Decorating the doorway and supporting the balcony, are two Baroque figures. This figure, representing Dawn, was rendered in white stone of Calissanne by the sculptor Jean-Claude Rambot, with assistance from the sculptor Pavillon. 2. Garden detail. Center, Top: View of Pavillon de Vendôme. Center, Middle: The garlands of fruit and chestnuts rendered above the main entrance represent Summer. Center, Bottom: Figure on a wall above a fountain in the garden of the Pavillon de Vendôme. Right Column: 1. Decorating the doorway and supporting the balcony, is the Baroque figure representing Dusk, rendered in white stone of Calissanne by the sculptor Jean-Claude Rambot, with assistance from the sculptor Pavillon. 2.  Garden detail.

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