village - tourism - history - heritage - vineyards - environment - events


   
 
       Leaving the church, to the east, you may walk along the old village wall to a vaulted passageway which leads to the oldest section of the village, dating back to the Middle Ages. Here, the winding stone-paved streets and beautiful houses are evocative of the original fortified village which once watched over the agricultural lands below. Above, a path leads up the hill to the "Castellas," the ruins of the medieval castle at the top of the hill.

Three powerful lines of fortification are still visible on the hillside. The first one follows the contours of the rock and then descends to wrap its arms around the entire old village. The second now forms a "terrace" on the north side of the castle. From here, you may watch over all the surrounding countryside, and, if the weather is clear, as far as the Cévennes hills to the west, and the foothills of the Alps to the east. A sloping passage leads then up to the castle itself.

As you enter into the castle, you pass by the cellars and their strong vaults to the left, to enter into the central court where the noble living quarters once stood. The chapel that also served as a defensive tower is no longer accessible as its vault is quite dangerous. Via a small door on the south of the courtyard, you may access the other side of the hill, and enjoy the beautiful landscape of wild limestone hills and oak woods.