International Piano Festival at La Roque d'Anthéron

The Big Story...

It was between 1598 and 1667 that the "petit Château" and then the "grand Château" were built under the impetus of the powerful de Forbin family and in large part by Annibal de Forbin Janson. In 1653, the seigneury of La Roque became a Marquisate. The Château remained the property of the Forbins until 1818, when the buildings and land were sold to Louis Raphaël de Cordoue, whose descendant married the Marquis de Florans, from a family originally from the Comtat Venaissin. It was thus during the 19th century that the Château de Forbin became the Château de Florans. The 20th century marked an important turning point in the destiny of the Château.

In 1937, the Marquise Marie de Florans, the last of her name and the only survivor of an era, bequeathed the property to the Archbishopric of Aix-en-Provence. A decade later, in 1948, Paul Onoratini rented and renovated the Château, which he very quickly transformed into a medical and dietary centre. He became the owner nine years later, thanks to his rigorous management and hard work. Over time, the Soleil et Repos Medical Centre became the current Château de Florans Clinic.

Nowadays

The Festival is the embodiment of an exceptional evolution, pursued in mutual trust between the artistic director René Martin and the Onoratini family. Paul Onoratini died in January 2010. In 2007, his son Jean-Pierre Onoratini took over the Presidency of the Festival. In 2014, Michel Onoratini became President in his turn. He was the delegate vice-president throughout his brother's presidency.

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