Rottier: Hiking Route and Traces of the Old Village

Rottier combines a yellow-marked hiking route with a layered local history. The forest and a pilgrimage festival associated with the Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges are also part of the picture. This lets you weigh whether hiking, local history, or the timing of an event is the deciding factor in your travel plans.

Hiking in Rottier

The hiking route is marked with the yellow PR trail markings. It starts and ends in Rottier. This gives you a specific hiking connection to consider when choosing a destination, while the history of the old village offers a distinct cultural focus. If you initially want to base your travel decision on an activity, you can consider the marked route as a reason to visit in its own right; the history of the buildings and the area offers another perspective on Rottier.

Chapels and Church History

The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges lies below the village on a rocky spur and was already in existence in the 16th century. The chapel contains an 18th-century ex-voto painting, which is classified as a protected object. The term ex-voto refers to a religious image expressing thanks or making a plea. The painting thus connects the chapel’s history with a specific form of religious artistic tradition.

A pilgrimage festival at the end of summer is also associated with the Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges. If you want to plan your travel dates around this occasion, check the specific event dates in advance. Another trace of the area’s religious history is the Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, a deconsecrated church dating from the 12th century. The chapel and church represent different historical contexts: the chapel connects early history, a protected work of art, and a festival, while the church is distinguished by its age and its status as a deconsecrated church.

The Old Village: Houses, Location, and Change

The history of the old village can be traced through a sequence of dates: in 1832, it had a total of 30 houses; in 1920, the old village was abandoned. The 13th-century tower in the old village has since been converted into a residence. Several periods are therefore evident: the number of houses at the time, the village’s later abandonment, and the medieval tower’s current use.

The location is also part of what defines the old village. Steep slopes gave it a defensive position; at the same time, it faced south and was sheltered from the Bise. The terrain, orientation, and shelter add the site’s distinctive features to the historical timeline.

Forest and Event Dates

Scots pine and black pine are the predominant species. A 2026 landscape program describes about one-third of a forest area as being grazed.

The “Ferme en Ferme” weekend is particularly associated with La Poulette des Aumas. If you want to plan your stay around it, check the latest event dates in advance. This weekend is a separate date to consider alongside the pilgrimage festival associated with the end of summer.

Discover more destinations: Mornans, Barret-de-Lioure, Montjoux, Chateauneuf Sur Isere, Épinouze, Cobonne, Saint-Julien-En-Quint, Saint-Auban-Sur-L'ouvèze

For the broader travel overview: Drôme.