Le Prince Noir


Useful Information

Location: Rue de l'Orme, 13520 Les Baux-de-Provence.
Walk up main road Rue du Trencat, turn left into Rue de l'Orme. Town too narrow for cars, parking in front of the town.
(43.743312, 4.795174)
Open: All year daily 16-20.
[2022]
Fee: La Dame à la licorne EUR 105.
Le Bijou EUR 152.
La Suite EUR 184.
Additional person EUR 25.
Per night B&B, minimum stay 2 nights.
[2022]
Classification: SubterraneaCave House
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:  
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Le Prince Noir, Rue de l'Orme, 13520 Les Baux-de-Provence, Tel: +33-490-543957, +33-620-078267.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History


Description

The guesthouse Le Prince Noir (The Black Prince) is located in the center of Le Baux, on a limestone rock in the middle of the Rhone estuary. Many buildings in this small tows incorporate a part of the rock into the structure of the building. The Prince Noir is a sort of cave house, as it is incorporated into the overhanging cliff face of the rock. All three rooms of the small guesthouse have natural rock as a part of the walls. The French call this semi-troglodyte, not built into the rock but using the rock face as walls..

This house was the home of an artist before it was transformed into a guesthouse. It has a unique atmosphere, because of the careful and sensitive way it was renovated and because of all the artworks, collected over a century, which are still decorating the building. It is located in the heart of the Castle, right above the village, and overlooks the Val d'Enfer and the Alpilles. The view from 150 m² of terraces on different levels is breathtaking.

According to the legend, the founder of the family of the Lords of Les Baux was Balthazar, one of the Three Kings of the christmas story. The star wich guided the kings is incorporated in the family's arms, a comet with 16 rays.

Le Baux is actually a tourist town. Walking up the main street is like walking through a theme park for the Medieval Age. There are souvenir shop, restaurants, other shops selling local specialties, creperies and so on. All visitors walk the main street like a pilgrimage route to reach the castle, which is definitely worth a visit. It is really huge and has a great view. But the Rue de l'Orme is a quiet side road and once inside the Le Prince Noir you will not see or hear any other tourist except probably the guests of the other two rooms.