Historical Marker Inscription
La Maison Natale de Nostradamus
Michel de Nostredame was born in this very house on 14 December 1503, he was the eldest son of Jaume de Nostredame, solicitor, and Reynière de Saint-Remy, both of whom were Jewish. His mother's grandfather, Jean de Saint-Rémy, owned this house and was Doctor and Treasurer of the town. Michel de Nostradame grew up in a well-off and learned family and during his childhood in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence was lucky enough to receive a good education, superior to that of the average child at the time, during which he learned the basics of mathematics and astronomy. He thoroughly enjoyed wandering the surrounding countryside and was known throughout his life by his depiction of the superb Alpilles landscape and his fascination with the "Antiques", of which he wrote about on numerous occasions.
Following his studies at the prestigious Avignon and Montpellier Universities he became a highly reputed doctor, researching into cures for the plague using only medicinal plants, albeit with some success. He nicknamed himself "Nostradamus", meaning "we give which is ours" or "we pass-on our knowledge."
Above all Nostradamus was a humanist, a blend of scientists and poet as well as being well accepted by the intellectuals. He became known after writing his prophecies in Salon de Provence from 1555 onwards. Queen Catherine de Médicis took a liking to him and appointed him as the "King's Doctor" in 1564.
He died in 1566, leaving behind him a sumptuous collection of extremely rich works, both scientific with hints of medicine as well as literary with Prophéties. He remains one of the most widely read authors.