Les Pilles: Village history on the Eygues and cycling route

Les Pilles brings together the history of a crossing over the Eygues and a village whose streets, houses and riverside setting define the place. The signposted “De l’Eygues au Bentrix” cycling loop starts and ends here; a festival, café and an art trail project add further cultural highlights. This gives you specific themes to choose from when planning your trip: village history, cycling, landscape and culture.

Village layout and the history of the Pont des Pilles

Les Pilles is situated on a rocky barrier in the valley that served as a toll station in the Middle Ages. The site has been protected since 1946. The old village on the right bank stretches along both sides of the Grande rue; on the left bank, Rue de la Combe winds between rocks and houses. Distinctive wrought-iron balconies characterize the houses overlooking the river. The village church was rebuilt in the Romanesque style in 1870 by H. Epailly. Riverside roads and houses extending over the river illustrate the close relationship between the village and the shape of the valley.

At the end of the Middle Ages, the Pont des Pilles was an important transport hub. It enabled both north–south travel across the Eygues and west–east travel, including to the village of Curnier. The bridge was destroyed in 1944 and later rebuilt in its present form. The castle ruins and the village preserve the passage through the Eygues gorge. The importance of the site as a crossing can therefore be traced not only through the bridge, but also through the connection between the river, the gorge and the village.

The Eygues landscape and cycling route

The Eygues is considered a Mediterranean river with a braided course. Over the course of the year, it changes its riverbed and winds through the valley. Its water regime includes periods of low water as well as sometimes severe, sudden floods. The route to Les Pilles offers views of the Eygues and its meanders and passes through the sheltered, rugged terrain of the Baronnies. While the Pont des Pilles represents the historic crossing, the meanders and changing riverbed reveal the river’s shifting form.

The signposted “De l’Eygues au Bentrix” cycling loop starts and ends in Les Pilles. It leaves the village via the bridge over the Eygues, then follows the paved D185 B road for 3.2 kilometres. The 3.2 kilometres refers to the stretch of road after the bridge. To find your way along the route, you can distinguish between two details: Les Pilles as the loop’s start and end point, and the length of this specifically named section.

Cultural events and dates

The “Pilles sous les étoiles” festival of contemporary circus takes place every two years in late April in odd-numbered years. If you would like to include the festival in your trip, check the dates for the relevant edition. The Café des Pilanthropes offers cultural, recreational and festive events alongside a bar and light refreshments. The programme and opening arrangements may change; if you are planning a visit, check both in advance.

“Pilles les Arts” was inaugurated in August 2026 and is conceived as an art trail in the municipality of Les Pilles, with several permanent or temporary works planned. Together with the festival and events at the café, the art trail project adds contemporary culture to the historical and landscape themes. This means you can find a range of starting points for a stay in Les Pilles, from village history and the Eygues to the cycling route and cultural offerings.

Discover more destinations: Comps, Aulan, Sainte-Croix, Bésignan, Marignac-En-Diois, La Garde-Adhémar, Dieulefit, Divajeu

For the main travel overview: Drôme.