Salles-Sous-Bois: Hiking Trails and Local History

Salles-sous-Bois offers several starting points for planning a trip: hiking trails with specific route details, paths through a diverse cultural landscape, and historic buildings in the village. Depending on whether you plan to spend time on a longer hike or are interested in local history, you can focus on different aspects of your stay.

Hiking trails with different features

The local circular hike “Taulignan par la route des lièvres” starts at the car park next to the town hall. It is marked in yellow, is 16 kilometres long, and takes approximately five hours. This estimated time does not include a visit to Taulignan. If you plan to visit, allow extra time for it. Trail conditions may change; check the current situation before setting out.

The “La Berre” hike has different route features: it crosses a ford over the Berre and then follows an unpaved path alongside truffle groves and lavender fields. Trail conditions may change here too. When choosing between them, you can distinguish a route with a specified distance and approximate duration from one featuring a ford, an unpaved section, and truffle and lavender cultivation. The details describe different aspects of each route without rating their difficulty.

Forest paths also offer the chance to discover an old Celtic track. It later became the medieval road from Taulignan to La Bégude-de-Mazenc. Historic routes are therefore another subject you can explore during a stay in Salles-sous-Bois.

Historic buildings in the village centre

The historic village centre includes numerous houses dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, vaulted structures, Renaissance windows on some façades, a washhouse, and a restored priory. These historic buildings offer different points of reference in the village landscape. At 22 Grande rue, the façade of a 16th-century house has retained its original integrity.

Only traces or rare, isolated remnants of the fortifications remain. The remains of the former south gate are partly preserved, including two horizontal loopholes that served as an additional defensive feature. The gate can be reached via a zigzag access route from Rue du Four and Montée Saint-Roch. This distinguishes the surviving traces of the gate from the fortifications, of which only isolated evidence has generally been preserved.

The public washhouse on Grande rue was completed on 22 September 1893. The washhouse, its fountain, and the entire premises were fully restored in 1999. The facility is no longer used as a washhouse.

Church, temple, and local tradition

The Sainte-Marie-Madeleine chapel is documented from the late 14th century and later became the parish church of Salles-sous-Bois. As of December 2020, the church is open every day throughout the year. For specific events or religious ceremonies, check with the local council.

The history of a temple is also among the recorded building events: a new temple was built in 1884, around 150 years after the first one was demolished. The approximate time span preserves the different levels of precision in the two dates.

Once a year, in August, a procession takes place in honour of Saint Roch. His statue is carried through the village as hymns are sung. Check the exact date before your trip if you would like to attend the procession. Along with the historic buildings and hiking trails, it offers another reason to plan your stay around a specific time of year.

Discover more destinations: Beauvallon, Mirmande, Eymeux, Les Granges-Gontardes, La Touche, Pont-De-l'Isère, Montclar-Sur-Gervanne, Pont-De-Barret.

For the broader travel overview: Drôme.