Owned by the Marquis de Rochegude until 1945, the building has a thousand year old history. The earliest mention in the Roman archives is from the third century AD. The site was of strategic importance, as it offered a bird's eye view of the Rhone Valley. The Popes, when they were based in Avignon in the 14th century, were in charge of administering justice.  The Huguenot chiefs, being less civilized, had practically destroyed the castle before being driven off by peasants who threw beehives at them from the tops of the ramparts. This, incidentally, is the origin of the Carré d'Abeilles which is depicted on the coat of arms, next to the doves of peace.

It wasn't until the end of the reign of Louis XIV and his bellicose velleity that the Château was rebuilt around the remains of the unique 11th century tower. It took on its present shape and its slightly Trianon look, including the gypseries, which were created by the same artists that Marie-Antoinette used. Its military background long forgotten, the Château today offers four star boarding and lodging in the middle of a park where deer and doe gambol. And the only thing left to supervise down below from this rocky piton is the ripening of the vines that produce the heady Côtes du Rhône... which goes well with truffle of course, the famous black diamond of Tricastin. 

Contact and information: www.chateauderochegude.com
Ideas to discover the Drôme region: http://www.ladrometourisme.com
Photo: Château de Rochegude