Le Château Laurens

Discover Château Laurens, an Art Nouveau gem in Agde

Located in Agde, near Pézénas, Château Laurens, also known as Villa Laurens, is a work of architecture built from 1898 by Emmanuel Laurens, a famous collector (1873-1959).

Unique in its kind, the monument reflects an eclectic style, with a blend of Art Nouveau and neo-Greek styles, as well as majestic decor inspired by Egyptomania and Orientalism. Its architecture creates a true symbiosis between the different arts and styles of its decorations.

Château Laurens will open its doors to the general public in June 2023 after 6 years of renovation.

Château Laurens, a journey through the arts

Mosaics, murals, stained glass, ironwork, furniture… During your visit, discover the taste for art of Emmanuel Laurens, its founder.

This remarkable building is a harmonious blend of Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Oriental influences. Emmanuel Laurens’ decorative and architectural choices give the monument a very special character. It is a place where modern architecture meets the decorative avant-garde, where contemporary creation coexists with past centuries.

In fact, the internationally acclaimed artists Tursic and Wilfried Mille were commissioned to design the new décor for the Château Laurens Music Room.

Heir to an immense fortune, Emmanuel Laurens was above all a lover of art and beauty, as well as a collector, traveller and music lover. He undertook the construction of Château Laurens in 1897, with the ambition of making his château a unique, lively place, marked by art. His gamble paid off!

To achieve this, he surrounded himself with artists such as the painter Eugène Dufour, who decorated the grand salon. Eugène Simas and Théophile-Hippolyte Laumonnerie created the splendid stained glass windows in the smaller flats. Finally, Eugène Martial Simas designed the magnificent bathroom with its bathtub and swimming pool, decorated with earthenware from the workshops in Sarreguemines (Grand Est).

He also commissioned some of his sometimes unusual furniture from Léon Cauvy and Paul Arnavielhe, cabinet-makers from Montpellier. Some of this furniture was purchased by the town of Agde and is currently on display at the Musée agathois Jules-Baudou, awaiting reinstallation in the villa. Carlo Bugatti furniture has also been identified in the villa.

Ironwork is also very well represented in the Château, with some unique and highly original pieces.

The parks and gardens of Château Laurens, a living space open to all

Château Laurens is much more than just a landmark in the Hérault region. It also boasts 3 natural areas, a veritable jewel box of greenery open to all, free of charge.

These areas are currently being developed, and it will take some time for nature to settle in, but here’s the final project:

• The so-called “classic” garden, located on the outskirts of the château, features a huge century-old magnolia tree. Over 6,000 ground covers and more than 1,000 bulbs have been planted at its foot.
• Then there’s the lush “central” garden, arranged around tall trees and the pond, which is currently being renovated. The area around the pond will be embellished with 1,450 plants. 35 trees, 60 larger ones and 210 palms and cacti will complete this part of the park.
• Finally, the park’s orchard will be home to 540 fruit trees: Brazilian guava, pecan walnut, quince, fig, mulberry, olive, pistachio, persimmon, apricot, peach, pomegranate, pepper and jujube.
  More than just a place to visit, Château Laurens is destined to be a living place, to the delight of locals and visitors alike!

Things to see and do around Château Laurens :

Here are a few must-see places to discover around Château Laurens:

• A boat trip on the Etang de Thau from the port of Marseillan: 9km
• Visit Noilly Prat: 9km
• Pézenas, town of art and history: 20 km
• Visit to the Espace Brassens in Sète: 22 km