Tour de Marnas
This tower is the only thing that remains of the castle.
This tower is the only thing that remains of the castle.
This village was fortified at the Middle Ages during the 100 years war and some of its ramparts are still standing today. It is situated on the road leading to Alba at the border of where the black basalt columns and white limestone rock are found.
Lussas is a rich town for many reasons. If you are seduced by early history, you will not want to miss visiting the dolmen of Mias and the structures that created the fortification for the Helvensians on the plateau of Jastres.
The ruins of the old castle and donjon or tower.
Discover the remains of the Bastide Royale, in the heart of Villeneuve de Berg The Bastide Royale was created in 1284 by a deed of betrothal between Philippe III le Hardi, King of France, and the Abbot of Mazan. This established royal justice over the whole of the Bas Vivarais and built a new town with its ramparts, its corner towers, its war gate or gate of honour adorned with the coat of arms of the town, its royal house, now the town hall (under the courtroom you can visit the prisons). Ancient sundials can be seen in the streets of the village.
At the foot of the Coiron can be seen a basalt "neck" (mass of volcanic rock), which is surely one of the largest in Europe. In the village remains of its medieval age can be seen on its fortified gate.
Perched high above the Rhône valley on its volcanic neck, Rochemaure castle has still not yielded all its secrets. It was probably built by the Adhémar family from Montélimar between the 11th and 12th centuries. The old village is well worth a visit and offers marvellous views over the river.
The church has a strange bell tower: a 9m high statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is said that it would have been built in thanks for having spared the village from an epidemic of cholera which had struck the neighboring villages.
The construction of the church date the 17th century. No remains of that period are present today, but its existence is referred to as early as the 11th century.
It is a unique fortified castle on the Coiron plateau. It is constructed by basalt rock and was also used for agriculture. No public visits permitted.