Le Pègue: Iron Age traces and Roman buildings

Le Pègue combines a location in the Pre-Alps with archaeological sites and buildings from several periods. For travelers who also consider cultural history when choosing where to stay, the variety of historical evidence offers concrete points of interest: alongside an Iron Age oppidum, there are Roman remains and medieval religious buildings.

Landscape at the foot of the Montagne de la Lance

Le Pègue lies at an elevation of 348 m on terraces at the foot of the 1,340 m-high Montagne de la Lance, on the first foothills of the Pre-Alps. These elevations provide a concrete scale for understanding the geography: the village’s location is described by its terraces and position at the foot of the mountain, while the named peak adds further context to the landscape. If you are looking for a destination within a clearly identified natural setting, this combination gives you a precise impression of the village’s location.

Iron Age and Roman traces

The Oppidum Saint-Marcel is considered a significant Iron Age archaeological site. It was designated a historic monument in 1993. The Chapelle Sainte-Anne contains numerous remains from the Roman period. The chapel itself is a Provençal Romanesque building dating to around the 11th century, and it was enlarged in the 17th century. Two distinct historical associations therefore come together at this site: the chapel’s Romanesque architectural history and the Roman remains inside it. The Chapelle Sainte-Anne is located in the center of the cemetery.

Different buildings, distinct histories

The similar-sounding names refer to different buildings. The Église Saint-Marcel et Saint-Mène was created from a Romanesque castle chapel dating to the 12th century. It houses 15 painted wooden statues from the 17th century, which are listed as historic monuments. Its baptismal font is carved from a Corinthian capital and supported by a Roman column. This brings together its origins as a castle chapel, protected statues and a distinctive architectural detail. The Chapelle Saint-Marcel is a different building: it is the last surviving remnant of the first castrum, which dates from the 9th to the 12th century; only the choir of this remnant survives.

Archaeology and historical photography

The estimated visit duration for the Musée Archéologique du Pègue is 1.5 to 2 hours. Allow for this in your plans and check the current duration before your trip. The Félicien-Tourasse photo trail offers a different historical perspective. It is based on photographs taken by Curé Tourasse in the early 20th century. The photo trail therefore focuses on something different from the buildings described here: historical photographs, rather than construction phases and furnishings, take center stage.

The landscape, archaeological traces and different architectural histories offer various points of interest to consider when choosing your destination.

Discover more destinations: La Répara-Auriples, Menglon, Montréal-Les-Sources, Aleyrac, Bénivay-Ollon, Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence, Portes-En-Valdaine, Sainte-Jalle

For the broader travel overview: Drôme.