Hotel Jean de Brion – Louis Jou Foundation

This 16th-century building was harmoniously restored by Master Typographer Louis Jou who, in doing so, played his part in the conservation and revival of the village.

The finest works of Louis Jou are exhibited alongside his furniture and collections -ancient books, engravings by Dürer and Goya, paintings, sculptures and ceramics – in the intimacy of the 6 rooms of the Renaissance Jean de Brion Mansion.

A talented artist, engraver, illustrator and publisher, Louis Jou exerted a decisive influence on contemporary books with his work combining creative power and perfect execution.

The person that the poet and publisher Pierre Seghers called the “architect of the book and of Les Baux” was close to artists such as Marquet, Picasso and, above all, André Suarès.

In 1939 Jou decided to settle in Les Baux-de-Provence in the heart of the Jean de Brion Renaissance Mansion that he restored from top to bottom and which since his death has housed the Louis Jou Foundation.

Committed to creating an activity around books, the Foundation put a “Book Workshop” – famed for the quality of its restorations of precious manuscripts, archives and works – in place on the ground floor in July 2021.

Upstairs there’s the library created by Louis Jou: 5,000 volumes going from the 16th to the 19th centuries, with a superb collection of travel stories, and a room reserved for exhibitions.

Opposite, there’s the Workshop with its three Stanhope presses in perfect working order, used at the time of courses, events and demonstrations.

For many years the Foundation has been implementing a policy to restore all of its buildings.

Until the work is completed, visits can be arranged by appointment.

Group tours can be organised (4 to 15 people): visit of the Workshop followed by a tour of the Brion Mansion: Book Workshop and Library.
Time: 2 hours
Admission: 7€

Events are planned for children (accompanied by an adult) during the school holidays, during which they can typeset their first name and make an etching that they then print on the presses.
Admission: 10€

Registrations: contact@fondationlouisjou.org

Practical information

Grand Rue
13520 Les Baux-de-Provence

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Tourist Office

Maison du Roy, Rue Porte Mage,
13520 Les Baux-de-Provence
Tél. +33 (0)4 90 54 34 39

tourisme@lesbauxdeprovence.com

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Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm
Weekends & public holidays: 10.00 am to 5.30 pm
Closure: 25 December and 1 January

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