 
LThe
Château we see today, was built from 1400 onwards
by Louis II of Anjou. His son, King René, transformed
it into a sumptuous Renaissance palace.
The property of the State since 1932, the Château
has been a Listed Historic Monument since 1840. It
is at one and the same time, a fortress and a Renaissance
palace, the architectural contrast is striking.
The lower court yard of the fortress is protected
by ramparts, dominated by the austere walls of the
dwelling of the lord : the whole bearing battlements.
These elements of military architecture evoke troubled
times
Within its walls, the Château is separated in
two distinct sections, the dwelling of the lord and
the lower court. In the lower court, where the reception
area is now found, were the outbuildings. The “treasure”
of the apothecary of the Saint Nicolas hospital is
on show there : a remarkable collection of 18th century
potteries in wood carvings of the period.
The Prince’s Residence surrounds the court of
honour which is distinctively Renaissance. The façades
have large mullioned windows to let light into the
rooms.
The tower containing a spiral staircase, with windows
all the way up, leads to the terrace on the roof with
a magnificent view. The sculptures of the church,
which is flamboyant gothic, show Italian influence.
In the West wing, the banqueting hall and the King’s
chamber have richly painted wooden ceilings. On the
top floor, the audience chamber has gothic stone vaulting
to carry the terrace. A series of 18th century Flemish
tapestries illustrating the story of Scipio the African
is on show here.
The West wing houses the Queen’s apartments.
In the Château, everything indicates the magnificence
and refinement of the Prince from Anjou.
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Opening
times :
April 1st to August 31st,
every day, from 10 am till 6h30.
October 1st to March 31st,
every day, from 10 30 till 5
Tarifs :
Individuals : 6.10 €
Groups : 5.10 €
Under 18 and professional justification : 4.10€
School groups, per class :
All year: 30.50 €
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It was the son and successor of Louis I of Anjou who
rebuilt the Château in its present form. It was in
ruins from the catapults of Du Guesclin and the attacks
of Raymond de Turenne. In September 1400, Louis II stopped
a few days in Tarascon. When he returned in October, he
had the site of the old fortress cleared and flattened. The
stone chosen was the “grisette” of Beaucaire,
a very hard shell incrusted limestone, used everywhere except
in a few areas of the second floor where it has been replaced
by the more brittle stone of Fontvieille.
Construction took place so quickly that in late 1403, Louis
was able to welcome in Tarascon, the Avignon Pope whom he
had just recognized. In 1406, the total cost was 33, 388
florins, 3 gros and 23 deniers. Although well-advanced,
the Château was not finished. Construction was stopped
when Louis II left for Italy. From 1428 to the death of
Louis II in 1435, reconstruction work pushed on actively.
The Château was transformed into a sumptuous Renaissance
palace by his son King René.
During his first long stay in Tarascon, from 1447
to 1449, King René carried out important improvements
to make the Château as we see it now. The decoration
of the court of honour dates from this period : loggia,
niches, statues, porches, decorated arcades, chamber known
as “of the chantries”. The King held dazzling
festivities and in the first year, he gave a sumptuous reception
for his nephew, the future King LouisXI of France.
The high point of the reign of René of Anjou, 1449,
also marks the final halt to the reconstruction of the Château.
It was then as we it now. From then onwards, the King only
embellished the interior, paintings and furniture.
In 1449, the Château was 130 metres long by 36 metres
wide, built on a steep carved rock which prolonged the walls
and towers down to the bottom of the moat.
It was split into two parts of approximately the same size
but of unequal importance : to the North, were the outbuildings,
chambers for the soldiers and a sunny court yard surrounded
by a wall with square towers ; to the South, the cubic mass
of the Château rises 45 meters above the Rhône.
These two parts which are on the same level, are separated
by a vast space, previously crossed by a draw-bridge.
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 Four
corner towers, each with an inside stair case
are linked by 10 meter wide constructions around
an inside court yard.
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The Round Tower or Clock Tower
(North East) has 4 stories, each chamber is
reached by a spiral staircase. This is the most
massive tower, (6 meters at the foundation,
3.50 meters at window level). The hexagonal
Low Room shows strange designs of galleys and
vessels carved into the stone.
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The second Tower
The Chapel Tower”(South West), is only
round outside, it contains two chapels, the
lower one with two sections has a 14th century
eight branched abside.
Its beautiful arched front was decorated with
statues; The upper chapel, with two sections,
is lit by a magnificent gothic window, there
is a six branched abside and two small oratories,
each with an oculus.
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The third Tower,
The Rhône Tower” (South West) is
square and contains a chamber with
magnificent carved stones.
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The fourth Tower,
(North West), is also square and bears the name
of “The Artillery Tower” because
of its function. It rises 1.20 meters above
the terrace. A fifth tower, situated between
the Clock and Artillery Towers, known as the
Keep Tower, seems to belong to an earlier building,
the different levels communicating only by trap
doors.
Four staircases of 136 steps lead to the terrace,
a belvedere where the view stretches from the
Mont Ventoux to the sea.
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rooms contain beautiful elements of interest
for visitors.
A Renaissance niche attributed to Laurana, contains
the busts of King René and his second
wife Jeanne de Laval. It bears a Latin inscription
which may be translated thus : “These
august personnages, famous for the lilies of
France and the cross, work incessantly to make
their way to heaven.”
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