Castellas de Roquemartine

Roquemartine is the name of an ancient castrum located in the commune of Eyguières. Its ruined castle, called " castellas de Roquemartine " or " château de la Reine Jeanne ", dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. It belonged to the family of Albe or Aube. From the outside, the castle of Roquemartine is reminiscent of the castle of Les Baux. It stands at the top of high bare cliffs whose grassy slopes are frequented by flocks of sheep. Below the castle is the church of Saint-Sauveur, which was once the parish church of the village of Roquemartine and which was attached to the commune of Eyguières in 1805.

The castle and the church form an original landscape perched on a spur overlooking the plain of Roquemartine. The site was listed as a historical monument in 1926.

During the crisis opened by the death of Queen Jeanne I, the community of Roquemartine joined the Union of Aix, supporting Charles de Duras against Louis I of Anjou. It was even one of the most loyal and maintained its support even after the surrender of Aix.

In 2022, the Castellas de Roquemartine was chosen for the Bouches-du-Rhône department by the Heritage Foundation and received support from the Heritage Lottery to finance its restoration and the opening of the site to the public after securing the ruins.