The Jardins d’Albertas of Bouc-Bel-Air and Casanova’s Visit in Provence

Whether fiction or not, Nutmeg thinks it is appropriate that Casanova the infamous Venetian writer, gambler and reputed womanizer is weaved into the history of les Jardins d’Albertas.

This garden, owned by the Albertas family, is located just a few minutes outside of Aix-en-Provence in the town of Bouc-Bel-Air, where the ancient village was built on a bouc (small hill).

The roots of the Albertas family stretch from Alba, Italy to Aix-en-Provence, where their influence on the Provençal city is notable. Henri and his son Jean-Baptiste d’Albertas, both held the high-ranking title of Président de la Cour des Comptes (Court of Auditors).

One of the most recognizable and photogenic squares in Aix is Place d’Albertas (photo above).  This sunny plaza carved out of the narrow winding streets of the old town resembles a small Italian piazza. Henri felt that the exterior of his home and his “view” were not distinguished enough. He commissioned a local architect to renew the façade of his house, and establish a vision for the future square. The work done in 1745 included the demolition of buildings across from his house in order to create the plaza. The fountain was only installed in 1912.

…Continue reading here for the complete Ginger and Nutmeg post for details on the Grand Canal and le Bassin des 17 jets. Discover why the unfinished garden might be a little like the Casanova love story.

Important details for your visit:

Les Jardins d’Albertas
Avenue de La Croix d’Or (D8n)
13320, Bouc-Bel-Air
Tel : +33 (0)4 42 22 94 71

Open May, September and October – Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays 14h-18h
In June and July, the gardens are open daily from 15h-19h

Other remarkable gardens to visit in Provence:

Val Joanis near Pertruis

Sentiers d’Abondance in Eygalieres

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild Blooms in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

No longer open to the public:

Jardin de l’Achimiste in Provence

La Louvre in Bonnieux

Take us with you

Travel Bonus! This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.