Simiane, a hilltop village perched at the end of a promontory rising from the Albion plateau, overlooks a vast plain adorned with fields of lavender. A curious, fortress-like keep, shaped like a truncated cone, crowns the village.

The severe exterior of the tower belies a surprising interior. As the saying goes, "Appearances can be deceiving": on the first floor, a vaulted chamber reveals a stunning dome whose ribs form a slightly irregular dodecagon (a 12-sided polygon), converging at the top around a central oculus. Pillars linked by arches support the structure, their capitals adorned with eerie human masks, at times grotesque or bestial.

This is one of the most extraordinary examples of Provençal Romanesque architecture: its construction dates back to the 11th century, and the reason behind its unique design remains a mystery to historians.

Simiane is the ancestral home of one of Provence's great aristocratic families, the Simiane-Agoult, who built the castle and transformed it between the 11th and 16th centuries. Eventually abandoned by its owners, the castle fell into disrepair and was sold after the Revolution to private individuals, then converted into homes and storage spaces. The Rotunda was saved from ruin thanks to its listing as a Historic Monument in 1841.

This exceptional architectural site is also renowned for its remarkable acoustics. In the Middle Ages, the d’Agoult family would host troubadours here, a tradition that endures today with the early music festival "Les Riches Heures Musicales de la Rotonde." Since its creation in 1982, the festival has gained a fine reputation.

Find a Guesthouse on the Plateau d'Albion

The castle is open to visitors, and an aromatherapy laboratory is located on the first floor of a Renaissance building. The village itself forms a stunning backdrop to this jewel of Provençal Romanesque architecture.