Château de Simiane-la-Rotonde

The earliest document mentioning the rotunda dates back to 1031. The castle itself, of which mainly the rotunda and parts of the enclosing walls remain today, was built by the Lords of Simiane towards the end of the 12th century. The keep, which leans against an older round tower from the 11th century, was likely used for storage on the ground floor and for representative purposes on the upper floor. In the early 13th century, the south side of the castle was expanded with living quarters, whose outer wall also served as a defensive wall. In the 14th century, the eastern and southern defensive walls were reinforced with a second defense system and a dry moat, which also functioned as a jousting arena. In the 16th century, the original staircase was replaced by a stone spiral staircase, and the windows were enlarged in Renaissance style. An old tower to the south of the rotunda was demolished in 1637 to obtain building materials. The rotunda was designated a historical monument as early as 1843 and extensively restored in 1875. Further restoration work in 1986/1987 reinstated the floor-dividing ceiling in the keep.

The castle is situated in Simiane-la-Rotonde in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, France, at an elevation of approx. 726 m above sea level.

The castle is open for visitors today, offering insights into its rich history and architecture.

• Château de Viens (castle), approx. 9.5 km away
• Château de Caseneuve (castle), approx. 12.2 km away
• Château de Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt (castle), approx. 14.8 km away
• Château de Saignon (castle), approx. 16.9 km away