Rochemaure: Castle, Rhône and Historic Buildings

Rochemaure carries the official “Village de caractère” label. Its castle history, listed historic buildings and walks with views of the Rhône each offer a different focus. If you choose a destination for its culture and landscape, Rochemaure lets you explore historical background, a guided tour that may be available seasonally, and routes described in different ways.

Castle and historical context

The Château de Rochemaure was built between the 11th and 12th centuries by the Des Adhémar family. The château offers views of the Rhône and volcanic landscapes. This brings architectural history and landscape together: the period of construction tells the story of the castle, while the view takes in the Rhône and volcanic landscapes. Guided tours of the ruins explain their historical background. The program may vary by season. If you are planning a tour, check before your trip whether one is offered on your travel dates.

The Passerelle Himalayenne, also known as Le Vieux Pont, is listed as a historic monument. In 2013, a historic suspension bridge was converted to carry the ViaRhôna route between Ardèche and Drôme. The listing and conversion describe two different aspects: the listing identifies its status as a historic monument, while the conversion describes a later change related to the ViaRhôna. At Notre-Dame-des-Anges, the emphasis is instead on architecture: the building is designed in the Provençal Gothic style. This style provides a different way to understand the building than its historic-monument status.

There is a clear visitor restriction at the Château de Joviac: the château cannot be visited. South of Rochemaure, the château’s historic hydraulic system is listed as a historic monument. These facts refer to different things: on the one hand, the château, which cannot be visited; on the other, the listed hydraulic system. This distinction is important when planning if you are choosing historic sites in particular.

Walks with different points of interest

Different features may influence your choice of route. PR 14 “Rochemaure, les îles du Rhône” is an easy, 5.1-kilometer circular walk. Trail conditions and markings may change; check both before setting out. The PR 17 “Le Pic de Chenavari” walk offers views of the Château de Rochemaure and the Rhône Valley.

The two walks therefore have different focuses: PR 14 stands out for its easy rating, length and circular format, while PR 17 is defined by its views of the castle and valley. This lets you choose between a circular walk described in specific terms and a walk featuring the viewpoints mentioned. Your choice depends on whether you are mainly considering distance and circular format or views of the château and Rhône Valley.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Marcols-les-Eaux, Saint Thome, Alboussière, Asperjoc, Lafarre, Fabras, Vals-Les-Bains, Savas.

For the main travel overview: Ardèche.