Located at the entrance to the pedestrian village of Les Baux-de-Provence, the Tourist Office is today the main reception point for visitors. It is directly accessible from the Charles-de-Gaulle Esplanade, where visitors leave their vehicles before continuing their exploration of the village on foot.

Housed in a historic building known as the Maison du Roy, the Tourist Office marks the point of arrival into the heart of the village. From here, the medieval streets and main monuments of Les Baux-de-Provence can easily be explored on foot.

The Maison du Roy: a 15th-century judicial building

The Maison du Roy was built in 1499, shortly after Provence was annexed to the Kingdom of France in 1481 under the reign of Louis XI. The building was intended to house royal and seigneurial justice, asserting the authority of the king over a territory that had previously been marked by strong feudal autonomy.

Before this period, the village belonged to the County of Provence, long governed by the Princes of Les Baux and later integrated into the possessions of the House of Anjou. The construction of the Maison du Roy thus symbolizes the establishment of royal administration in the region following Provence’s integration into the Kingdom of France.

The building was originally attached to the village ramparts, which were partially opened in the 19th century to create the current access toward Rue Porte Mage.

Late medieval judicial architecture

The interior architecture of the Maison du Roy reflects its original function. It displays the typical characteristics of Provençal judicial buildings from the late Middle Ages.

The main courtroom, the central space of the building, is a rectangular hall covered with Gothic ribbed vaults. Several original features can still be observed:

• a monumental fireplace set into one corner of the room,
• exposed cut-stone walls,
• an irregular stone slab floor,
• wall niches and pointed-arch openings allowing natural light.

This hall once hosted the judge and public hearings. Around it are several smaller vaulted rooms, which likely served as archives, administrative offices, or small detention cells.

Administrative and heritage history

Over the centuries, the Maison du Roy retained its administrative role before gradually being adapted for other public uses. Its historical importance led to its classification as a historic monument in 1905, ensuring its preservation.

Today, the building houses the Tourist Office, which has been carefully integrated to preserve the original architecture while providing essential visitor services.

A place for information and services

The Tourist Office of Les Baux-de-Provence offers a wide range of services designed to help visitors discover the village and the surrounding region.

A gateway to exploring the village

Beyond its current administrative role, the Maison du Roy remains an important witness to the political history of Les Baux-de-Provence. Built at the end of the Middle Ages to assert royal justice in a former feudal stronghold, it now marks the starting point for discovering the village.

From this historic building, visitors can continue their walk through the streets of Les Baux-de-Provence and explore the many monuments that reflect the remarkable past of this hilltop village in the heart of the Alpilles.