En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château de Rochemaure overlooks the village of the same name in Ardèche, perched on a volcanic pinnacle on the edge of the Rhône, at the foot of the Coiron plateau. Its keep, a square tower some forty metres high topped by a pentagonal tower, was built between 1120 and 1140 of black basalt rubble stone with limestone quoins; it was entered at first-floor level, with no opening at ground level. In the 13th century the seigneurial residence and the ramparts were built, while the Tour du Guast, possibly earlier, completed the system controlling the Rhône. The castle belonged successively to the Adémar de Monteil family (until 1359), the Levis-Ventadour (1359-1694), the Rohan-Soubise (1694-1784), the Garnier des Hières (1784-1912) and then the Massin de Miraval (1912-1974), before being acquired by the municipality in 1974. Abandoned as early as 1630, it lost its roof, which was sold in 1730, and fell into ruin. Classified as a monument historique on 22 March 1924 (castle, two enclosure walls and the Tour du Guast), it still retains its ramparts and towers today, and is open to visitors in July and August as well as during some school holidays.
