Discover Crest: Culture, History and Trails

Crest brings together architectural and commemorative history, a themed walking route, a ridge hike, changing art exhibitions and recurring events. To plan your visit, it helps to decide what you want to focus on first: would you like to explore historical traces in more detail, follow a route connected to water, head out along the ridges, or plan your stay around an event? Event dates and programmes vary; visits may be restricted to certain days.

Historical traces in Crest

The former keep of the Tour de Crest was classified as a historic monument by decree of 6 June 1877. Hundreds of graffiti bear witness to the suffering or hopes of former prisoners. The Tour de Crest also presents history through reconstructed cells, staged historical displays and an immersive audio experience. Historical inscriptions and interpretive displays thus sit side by side. The visitor presentation may evolve, so check the current visiting conditions before your visit.

Another historic structure is the 14th-century Porte de Montségur. It is also known as the Porte Saint-André and the Porte des Écus du Diable, and is the only one of Crest’s seven gates to have survived. The different names all refer to the same gate. Together with the Tour de Crest, it offers another way to discover Crest’s architectural heritage.

Waterways and panoramic views

The « Mémoire de l’eau » themed walking route follows the Drôme, passes fountains and washhouses, and runs alongside former canals. It also explores traces of a prehistoric sea. Water and its traces in the landscape are the route’s common thread.

The Les Roches hike has a different focus: it follows the ridges behind the Tour de Crest and offers panoramic views of the Vercors mountains, the Trois Becs and the Plateau ardéchois. The main difference between the two routes is their focus: « Mémoire de l’eau » highlights water and historical traces in the landscape, while Les Roches follows the ridges and focuses on the panorama. Weather and visibility affect the views of these landscapes.

Events throughout the year

Crest’s Fête Médiévale takes place every year over the Whitsun weekend and has been held since 2006. The event features demonstrations, workshops on historic craft techniques, re-enactments of period encampments, a medieval arts and crafts market, performances and concerts. The programme varies from year to year. If you would like to plan your stay around the festival, check the dates for that year’s edition.

The Crest Jazz Festival is a week of concerts held annually in late July or early August. Here too, the exact dates and programme vary. Unlike the Fête Médiévale, the jazz festival centres on a week of concerts rather than the Whitsun weekend. When planning your trip, consider which of these two recurring events best fits your schedule and interests.

Art and visiting options

The Centre d’art in Crest holds three to four temporary exhibitions each year. Check the exhibition programme separately. The Centre d’art offers guided tours, hosted visits, workshops and talks for individual visitors, groups and school classes; this programme of activities may also vary. Depending on your interests, you can combine your visit with an exhibition or one of the activities on offer.

Ten Capuchin friars now live at the Couvent des Capucins. The convent can be visited during the European Heritage Days. Check the dates and visiting arrangements for the relevant edition. Unlike recurring annual events, this visiting opportunity is tied to the European Heritage Days. Bear this in mind when planning the timing of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Le Poët-Laval, Saint-Julien-En-Quint, Bénivay-Ollon, Portes-Lès-Valence, Romans-Sur-Isère, Molières-Glandaz, Pennes-Le-Sec, Cobonne.

For the broader travel overview: Drôme.