It is as if the harshness of its walls preserve it from the gazes of the indiscreet whose elegant windows and balconies are evidence of its typically Provencal inspiration.

Doubtless built at the beginning of the 15th Century, like all old residences, it underwent restoration during the course of the 18th Century. Vaults of medieval origin indicate that people were on the site long before the construction of the building. A historical Château, Arpaillargues has always been associated with literature. Was is not hinted that Choderlos de Laclos drew his inspiration for the character of Madame de Merteuil in “Les Liaisons dangereuses” from the Marquess of Agoult de Montmaur ? Such a rumour scandalized the family to the point that she protested to the author. But the rumour implied that the Marquess was more respected than respectable.

She is known to have been endowed with charming wit and some what loose conversation. As a young widow, she was famous throughout half a century as the soul of Grenoblese society. At the age of eighty, she passed away after a reception, once her last guest had departed. Another of the Château’s famous families were the Bargeton. In his novel “Illusions Perdues”, Honoré de Balzac drew his inspiration for certain characters from them : Monsieur Bargeton, a man in his forties, marked by the squanderings of his youth, was said to have a remarkably powerless mind, wrote the author.

Another member of the family, Marie d’Agoult, was to remain in literary and musical history on more than one account. Marie de Flavigny was young, beautiful and cultivated. Courted by Alfred de Vigny whom she found a bore, at 22 she married a former army colonel with a brilliant service record, the Viscount Charles-Louis d’Agoult. Residing in Arpaillargues, they were to have three children, one boy and two girls.

Marie was a writer of talent. Under the pseudonym of Daniel Stern, she published several works. Madly in Love with Liszt, she abandoned her children and her colonel husband to join the composer in Paris. She was to receive the artistic elite of the period including Chopin, Berlioz, Ingres, George Sand.