Burgundy - Jura - Rhone Valley
One side is perched on a cliff overlooking the gorges of the Ardèche, the other faces the Côtes du Rhône vineyards. The two facets of this former stronghold draw visitors because of their simplicity and the exceptional setting. Must-sees and must-dos 11C church old oil mill Guided tour of the village A wide range of outdoor activities (hikes, white water sports, etc.) Themes Au fil de l'eau Rivers Ardèche and Cèze Vin Côtes du Rhône wines Châteaux et remparts The ramparts, Sarrazine tower, the "castelas" Insolite The "hoaxes" in the village streets to tease the tourists... On the way... Walk of the Castelvieil’s rock
Themes
- By the waterside : The rivers Ardèche and Cèze
- Castles and ramparts : The ramparts, the Sarrazine tower, the "castelas"
- Unusual sights : The "hoaxes" in the village streets to tease the tourists
- Wine : The Côtes du Rhône wines
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Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ardèche, the old fortress belonging to the "Lords of Balazuc" has kept many signs of its medieval past : a maze of winding streets and arched passageways have always been part of the village scenery along with the castle, the fortified Romanesque church and the outer gates.
Themes
- By the waterside : The river Ardèche
- Castles and ramparts : The castle, Summer Gate and Sablière gate
- Wine : AOC Côtes du Vivarais, Coteaux de l’Ardèche locally produced wine
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Nestled in a cirque formed where three valleys meet and boasting an exceptional view, Baume-les-Messieurs has clustered its houses around a Benedictine abbey, which is a magnificent example of Romanesque art of the Jura and houses one of the greatest polychrome altarpieces in Europe.
Themes
- Abbeys and churches : The imperial abbey
- Wine : Côtes du Jura wines
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Château-Chalon is the birthplace of the famous Vin jaune (literally yellow wine) made from late harvest grapes and it watches over its vineyards from the top of the cliff on which it is perched.
The village grew up around the castle it gets its name from and the Benedictine abbey, but all that remains of these are the keep and the Romanesque church of Saint Pierre.Themes
- Panoramas : View of the Seille Valley and Bresse plain
- Wine : Château-Chalon, Côtes du Jura, Crémant and Macvin AOC wines
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Watching over flat open country and the Burgundy Canal, Châteauneuf and its imposing 12C stronghold bear witness to the strategic position the village occupied between Dijon and Autun. The medieval streets reveal the houses of rich Burgundy merchants from the 14, 15 and 16 centuries and lead up to the viewpoint which offers a splendid all-round vista.
Themes
- Castles and ramparts : The fortress
- Panoramas : View of the Morvan Mountains and the Auxois Plain from the panoramic viewpoint
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Built around a Benedictine abbey founded in the 8C, this Burgundian village not only relates its medieval history through its ramparts, fortified gates, cobblestone streets, houses and mansions but also through its aniseed-flavoured sweets that are still made in the former abbey and the smell of which will welcome you as you arrive !
Themes
- Castles and ramparts : The ramparts, the fortified gates of Val, Bourg, and Poterne
- Gastronomy : Aniseed sweets
- Panoramas : View of the Auxois hills from the rampart walk
- Wine : Locally produced Coteaux de l’Auxois wine : Flavigny vineyards
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Some twenty kilometres south of Montélimar, the white stones of La Garde-Adhémar dazzle in the Drôme Provençale sunshine. From the top of its chalky outcrop, the village, which has kept ramparts, traces of the castle and old houses from its medieval structure, offers an unobstructed view of the Rhône Valley and the Vivarais Mountains.
Themes
- Abbeys and churches : Church of Saint Michel, White Penitents’ Chapel, Notre Dame Chapel (Val des Nymphes site)
- Castles and ramparts : The ramparts and feudal castle
- Panoramas : View of the Rhône Valley and the Vivarais Mountains
- Unusual sights : Val des Nymphes site (worship of water gods and mother goddesses)
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At the North of Gard, La Roque-sur-Cèze was built on a rock peak overlooking the Cèze which spans a twelve-arches old bridge. Dominated by the traces of the former castle and its chapel, the village with sloping cobbled streets and its houses, made with creamy stones and curved-tiles cornices, offers a breathtaking view of the Cascades du Sautadet, an exceptional natural site which adds to the attraction of the place.
Themes
- By the waterside : The river Cèze and Cascades du Sautadet
- Castles and ramparts : The traces of the 12C castle and ramparts
- Panoramas : The view of the Cascades du Sautadet from the top of the village
- Wine : Côtes du Rhône wines
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Le Poët-Laval is nestled in the Jabron valley amid lavender and wheat fields some twenty kilometres from Montélimar. The village was a former commanderie of the order of Knights Hospitaller and has kept the castle, ruins of the Romanesque chapel of Saint Jean des Commandeurs and ramparts from that time.
Themes
- Castles and ramparts : The castle dating back to the 12C, 13C and 15C
- Unusual sights : Dauphiné Reformation Museum
- Panoramas : View of the Jabron valley from the top of the village
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45 kilometres south of Besançon, Lods, with the River Loue cascading through it, is a village where smithies and vineyards long governed the pace of inhabitants’ lives. The village has kept the winegrowers’ houses of days gone by and has set up a Musée de la Vigne et du Vin (wine and vineyard museum) along with an ethnological museum relating the history of its former blacksmiths and winegrowers.
Themes
- By the waterside : The river Loue
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 Rue Tour _ Dlebigot.jpg "Garde-adhemar (La) Rue Tour _ Dlebigot.jpg")
 Eglise _ Pbvf.jpg "Roque-sur-ceze (La) Eglise _ Pbvf.jpg")
 Tour Vue Haut _ Dlebigot.jpg "Poet-laval (Le) Tour Vue Haut _ Dlebigot.jpg")
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