Discover La Charce

La Charce brings together the geological history of Serre de l’Âne with a distinctive architectural and historical heritage. A gentle circular walk adds a specific hiking option. To decide whether La Charce matches your interests, consider some practical questions: Would you like to explore geology, go hiking, or discover historic architecture and local history?

Geology at Serre de l’Âne

Serre de l’Âne is classified as an Espace Naturel Sensible because of its significant geological interest. Its cliff records more than five million years of Earth’s history continuously. Serre de l’Âne is also part of the worldwide network of 25 boundary stratotypes, which geologists use as references. These details reflect different scales: they point both to the long geological period recorded by the cliff and to the importance of Serre de l’Âne as a reference for geologists. At Serre de l’Âne, the Chemin des temps géologiques helps visitors understand the geological phenomenon visible there.

The tourism information dated September 18, 2023, states that Serre de l’Âne is free to access and open every day all year round. Before your visit, check whether any temporary access restrictions apply.

Hiking and understanding the geological phenomenon

The “LA CHARCE – Col de la Loubière” route is an easy 6.1 km circular walk with 211 metres of elevation gain. It has a different focus from the Chemin des temps géologiques: the circular route highlights its course and elevation profile, while the named path at Serre de l’Âne helps visitors understand the geological phenomenon. This lets you distinguish a hike with specified route details from a geology-focused path.

Château de La Charce: history and visits

Château de La Charce was remodelled in the 16th century by the Protestant captain René de la Tour-Gouvernet. It was owned by Philis de La Charce (1645–1703), a well-known heroine of the Dauphiné. The remains of the château were listed as a Monument historique by decree on July 13, 1926. This brings together architectural changes, ownership history and protected status as distinct historical aspects. You can visit the château from the outside only.

Village character and local heritage

La Charce’s architecture also gives a tangible sense of the place: the village is built from limestone and sandstone. Sandstone was used mainly for cornerstones and edging stones. The information thus distinguishes the two building materials from the specific use of sandstone in certain architectural elements. For anyone interested in architecture, this offers a concrete way to observe the village’s building style.

Local history also includes a Protestant burial tradition that continues to this day: most residents of La Charce are buried in Protestant family cemeteries. This connection to the present adds another dimension of local heritage to the château’s history.

Discover more destinations: Léoncel, Chatuzange-Le-Goubet, Bourg-De-Péage, Granges-Les-Beaumont, Chamaloc, Autichamp, Treschenu-Creyers, La Motte-Chalancon.

For the overview of the wider region: Drôme.