This 18th century mansion belonged to Charles-François de Ferres, a descendant of Italian glass masters who settled in Goult in the middle of the 15th century. This residence subsequently belonged to General Robert (1772-1831), an empire baron who covered himself with glory in Tortosa during Napoleon’s wars in Spain. He was appointed governor of this city in 1813. In 1825, for his retirement, he returned to live in his native village, Ménerbes, where he died on June 16, 1831. He is buried in the family vault which is located in the garden of the old Presbytery.

The elegant mansion contains ancient rock structures at the rear, dating back to a date of ancient occupation. In the gardens dominated by the carved rock, wells and ponds demonstrate the presence of water, essential for religious rites, in this district known to have housed a small Jewish community in the past.

Dora Maar (Henriette Theodora Markovitch), an artist photographer who was Picasso’s companion for several years, purchased this house in 1944 with the proceeds from the sale of a painting donated by the Spanish painter. Until her death in 1997, she stayed there every summer and drew and painted the surrounding landscapes.

Nowadays, the house is a private property intended to accommodate in residence artists and writers from all over the world.