Top 5 Castles around La Bégude-De-Mazenc

only 750 m

I have taken note.

A small, medieval village that immediately captivates you with its romantic and picturesque atmosphere. A visit is highly recommended.

Perched on a hill overlooking the Jabron valley, this village, listed among the most beautiful villages in France, can be seen from afar from the road from Dieulefit to Montélimar. To get there, you will have to climb a small, very steep road on both sides, whether you come from the east or the west. In the 12th century, the order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem (which later became the Order of Malta) decided to establish a commandery on this hill and built a castle and its keep at the top of the village. In this era of crusades, the place served as a stopover and refuge for pilgrims heading to the Holy Land. Like any medieval village, its history is rich and the imprint of wars is very present. Marked by significant damage during the wars of religion, the village was gradually abandoned by the commanders who settled in Montélimar. This departure marked the decline of the site, which eventually transformed into a ghost village. It was from the 1920s that its rehabilitation began, and the restoration of the buildings brought a second life to this village which has managed to retain its former appearance. One of the buildings houses a museum of Dauphiné Protestantism, which has left a lasting mark on the region's history.

The village of Poët-Laval is a charming town known for its medieval history, its picturesque streets and its peaceful atmosphere. It provides a picturesque setting for visitors with its old stone houses and surrounding natural landscapes.

This castle (private property) founded in the 14ᵉ century retains very few vestiges of this period. It was refurbished in the 17ᵉ century, with a south facade made in the 19ᵉ century in a neo-medieval style. Its current quadrangular plan is confined to the corners of four circular turrets; its four wings overlook an interior courtyard accessible from the east. The agricultural outbuilding (farm) which was attached to it and adjoining to the northeast, probably in the 19ᵉ century, adopts a U-shaped plan. It has an interior courtyard and includes a stable wing.

Le Poët-Laval is ranked among the most beautiful villages in France. There is a museum of Protestantism.

Le Poët-Laval is a French municipality with 966 inhabitants. The residents are called Poët-Lavaliens or Poët-Lavalliennes. In September 2010, the village was awarded the distinction „Les plus beaux villages de France“ (The most beautiful villages in France). Villagescape: - The medieval Château des Hospitaliers of the Comtes de Poitiers, towering over the village. - Dating from the Romanesque period is the semi-ruined chapel Saint-Jean-des-Commandeurs with the tower rising above the semi-circular apse. The first structure was presumably built at the beginning of the 13th century, at the same time as the Château des Hospitaliers. It was heavily damaged during the Wars of Religion and rebuilt at the end of the 17th century. After the construction of the new church in the lower village, it lost its function in 1895; in the 1930s, the nave and sacristy collapsed. - The keep, whose facade is punctuated by Gothic pointed arch windows. - The Commanderie (Salon des Commandeurs) of the knighthood, flanked by towers, was built in the 15th century. Its facade is adorned with Gothic crosses – the eight-pointed white cross of the Knights of Malta symbolizes the eight beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount.