La Baume-De-Transit: Church, Castle and Landscape

For a trip to La Baume-De-Transit, several interests come together: the Église Sainte-Croix and the castle remains point to architectural history, while the routes draw attention to wetlands and vineyards. This means the area can be viewed through both its historic buildings and its landscape. The following features can help you choose the focus that best suits your travel plans.

The architectural history of the Église Sainte-Croix

The Église Sainte-Croix was first built as a chapel in the 12th century, during the Crusades. Its original floor plan was shaped like a Greek cross with four arms. Each arm ended in a semicircular apse, a rounded architectural feature.

For architecture enthusiasts, one particular point of interest is the way the overall form connects with the details: the Greek cross describes the floor plan, while the apses round off each arm. The church can therefore be understood both through its cruciform layout and through the design of its individual ends. Its origins as a chapel and its construction during the Crusades add historical context to this architectural form.

Castle remains and panoramic views

The ruins of the Château de La Baume de Transit are the remains of a castle built in the 12th century. The Vestiges du Château de La Baume de Transit include a surviving high tower with impressive machicolations. Machicolations are projecting defensive openings from which the area directly below a wall could be defended. The tower and machicolations thus represent different aspects of the surviving defensive architecture.

The summit of the Vestiges du Château de La Baume de Transit offers a 360° panoramic view. Alongside the architectural history, the view stands out as another feature of the site. If you are interested in castle architecture, the tower and machicolations are the main attractions; for panoramic views, head to the summit.

Landscape and routes

The L’étang Saint-Louis route passes through a sandy area where stands of maritime pines and holm oaks preserve the area’s last wetland. The vegetation and wetland define the landscape focus of this route. It is marked with yellow PR signs. Check the signage on site.

Les Balmes takes cyclists along scenic paths through the region’s vineyards. The route follows green loop no. 3 and is marked with yellow VTT signs. The two routes thus have different features: L’étang Saint-Louis passes through a landscape of wetlands and woodland, while Les Balmes takes cyclists through vineyards.

Both routes are marked in yellow, so the PR and VTT abbreviations are also important for navigation, as is the green loop number for Les Balmes. Check the signs on site to identify the route markers.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Auban-Sur-L'ouvèze, Cobonne, Roynac, Truinas, Allex, Miribel, Saint-Martin-D'août, Granges-Les-Beaumont

For the wider travel overview: Drôme.