The Toulon Ropewalk and the Educational Expedition of Professionals under the Order of St. John: New Insights from Drawings Preserved at the Historical Archives of Masino Castle (Caravino)

A key development in the construction project for a new ropewalk during the period of the Order of St John in Malta can be traced back to 1761. It was part of a project likely overseen by the Piedmontese architect Francesco Marandon, but the ropewalk was never built. Marandon was sent to Toulon specifically to study Vauban's ropewalk design, and there he closely examined its features to understand its structure and distinctive characteristics. The rope-drawing system was essential for the effectiveness of military vessels: furthermore, Toulon, much like Rochefort in the 17th century, represented a significant bastion of French influence in the Mediterranean and served as a key European model of reference. This study sheds light on an unexplored story involving the counts Valperga di Masino and using documents from the Historical Archives of Masino Castle (Caravino). For the first time, the educational journey of an architect is shown to focus on a highly practical approach to learning construction methods. Marandon’s expedition was aimed at studying the Toulon ropewalk building, one of the most emblematic structures representing French dominance in the Mediterranean. Revealing its secrets was crucial for the Order to be able to reproduce a similar structure, as part of an effort to reaffirm its position as a maritime power, a status solidified after the Battle of Lepanto.