Heritage

Botanical intelligence at the heart of an exceptional estate

Baulieu: Botanical Terroir

It is in the heart of the Aix-en-Provence region that the Domaine de Baulieu is nestled. At the Domaine's center stands a residence built in 1576 under Henri III, now the exceptional Maison Airelles: Villa Baulieu. Originally a manor house, it welcomed some of the most prominent Provençal families in subsequent centuries. Its unique 300-hectare estate is rooted in the memory of an ancient volcano and irrigated by two springs with regenerative properties. This water, incredibly rich in magnesium, calcium, and silica, nourishes a terroir where nature flourishes, grows, and regenerates.

Exceptional biodiversity

The exceptional biodiversity of the Domaine de Baulieu has fascinated the greatest botanists, including Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, botanist to King Louis XIV, to whom we owe a herbarium of more than 9,000 species and the first botanical classification in the world.

Advanced Botany Laboratories, a patron of the National Museum of Natural History where this treasure resides, supports a vast project to restore and digitize historical herbaria, in order to pass on this living heritage to a new generation of researchers.

A research and innovation center

More than four centuries after Joseph Pitton de Tournefort's visit, the Domaine de Baulieu has once again become a leading center for scientific research. Today, it houses the brand's first research and innovation laboratory, fully immersed in nature. Two study gardens adjoin the laboratory: the Jardin des Simples (Garden of Simples), a tribute to medicinal plants of yesteryear, and the Jardin du Laboratoire (Laboratory Garden), where the regeneration of native and exotic plant species cultivated on the estate is being tested.

As privileged observers of nature, scientists study the incredible regenerative capacity of plant species cultivated on the estate.

Sustainable excellence

The refillable cases for Laboratoires Botanique Avancée skincare products are designed as truly precious objects, crafted from premium materials and built to last. Protected by two patents, they house a portable and infinitely recyclable aluminum refill. To create these enduring objects, Laboratoires Botanique Avancée collaborated with leading French artisans. Designed within a Living Heritage Company (EPV label), each case required no less than fifteen days of work.

Exceptional hospitality combined with regenerative cosmetics

With its exceptional properties, Airelles continually reinvents the art of hospitality, combining elegance, generosity, and immersive experiences. Intimately linked to the history of Airelles, Laboratoires Botanique Avancée was born from the desire to offer, at the heart of these exceptional locations, a beauty experience of excellence. The Research and Innovation Center of Laboratoires Botanique Avancée is located within the grounds of Villa Baulieu, Airelles' private residence.