Exterior view

Philibert Delorme’s works and Guillaume Philander’s knowledge of ancient architecture and his more scholarly attitude towards the use of the Orders seem to have had their effect on architects in the provinces - especially in the south where antique remains and contiguous Italy provided more or less direct inspiration to complement the influence of the High Renaissance masters in Paris. Outstanding examples include the courtyard of the H�tel Assezat (1552) by Jean Castagn� at Toulouse, with its three superimposed orders framing Serlian arcades; the two-storey arcaded screen on the courtyard of the château of Bournazel (c. 1550), Aveyron, by Guillaume de Lissorgues; the triumphal entrance arch (1571) of the château of La Tour d’Aigues, Vaucluse, where the principal corps de logis (c. 1560) follows Lescot’s Louvre; and the Roman church front that provides the gable above the west fa�ade (1562) of Rodez Cathedral by Guillaume Philander.

In the provinces we find several châteaux in which an interesting kind of classicism is visible, different from that of northern France. The most important of these is Bournazel, of which the earlier and less important north wing was built in 1545 and the impressive double-arcaded screen on the east about 1550 by Guillaume de Lissorgues.

The photo shows the courtyard fa�ade of the east wing of the château.