Rochebonne Castle

En un regard

Le château en bref

Rochebonne Castle (Château de Rochebonne) is a former fortified castle, now in ruins, located in the commune of Saint-Martin-de-Valamas in Ardèche, in the Eyrieux valley (Boutières region), on top of a rocky outcrop at an altitude of about 850 metres. Probably built in the 11th century, it was held from the 11th to the 13th century by Giraud de Romegier and then by the Châteauneuf family. A large main residential building (corps de logis) was erected in the 15th century in the lower part of the site, providing a more comfortable residence. The castle was captured and damaged several times by the Protestants during the Wars of Religion, between 1577 and 1595. It then gradually fell into ruin: in 1734, the parish priest already described it as "in ruins". Since 1980, the association Les Amis de Rochebonne has worked to consolidate and enhance the remains, which include a hexagonal keep on a rocky outcrop, several residential buildings and a quadrangular tower. The site is now freely accessible outside periods of excavation or consolidation work.