Hilltop villages
In the 11th and 12th centuries, medieval fortifications were established on these summits, mostly modest, but sufficient to see and be seen. For a long time historians attributed these hilltop villages to the necessity of defending themselves against the Saracens.
In fact it was the local lords who sought to assemble the rural population in these hilltop villages in order to more efficiently tax them and establish a number of monopolies (mills, ovens, etc.). Houses were built in the shadow of the ramparts and remained there until the 19th century when houses were built lower down the slope. Only a century or so later and the hilltop villages are experiencing a rebirth!
Historic site and monument
Marsanne
Marsanne
Historic site and monument
Le Pègue
Le Pègue
Historic site and monument
Grignan
Grignan
Historic site and monument
Discovery tour of Clansayes
Clansayes
Historic site and monument
Espenel
Espenel
Historic site and monument
Cornillon sur l'Oule
Cornillon-sur-l'Oule
Historic site and monument
Verclause
Verclause
Historic site and monument
Beaufort-sur-Gervanne
Beaufort-sur-Gervanne
Historic site and monument
Livron-sur-Drôme
Livron-sur-Drôme
Historic site and monument
Châteauneuf-de-Mazenc
La Bégude-de-Mazenc
Historic site and monument
Valaurie
Valaurie
Historic site and monument
Chabrillan
Chabrillan
Historic site and monument
Vercheny
Vercheny
Historic site and monument
Allex
Allex
Historic site and monument
Montségur-sur-Lauzon
Montségur-sur-Lauzon
Historic site and monument
Village de Montaulieu
Montaulieu
Historic site and monument
Discovery tour of Malataverne
Malataverne
Historic site and monument
Puy-Saint-Martin
Puy-Saint-Martin
Historic site and monument
Cliousclat
Cliousclat
Historic site and monument
Autichamp
Autichamp
Historic site and monument
La Laupie
La Laupie
Historic site and monument
Bellecombe Tarendol
Bellecombe-Tarendol
Historic site and monument
Montclar-sur-Gervanne
Montclar-sur-Gervanne
Historic site and monument
Le Poët-en-Percip
Le Poët-en-Percip
Historic site and monument
La Bâtie-Rolland
La Bâtie-Rolland
Historic site and monument
Le Poët-Célard
Le Poët-Célard
Historic site and monument
Puygiron
Puygiron
Historic site and monument
Village de Chaudebonne
Chaudebonne
Historic site and monument
La Roche-sur-le-Buis
La Roche-sur-le-Buis
Historic site and monument
Allan
Allan
Historic site and monument
Mirabel-et-Blacons
Mirabel-et-Blacons
Historic site and monument
Rousset-les-Vignes
Rousset-les-Vignes
Historic site and monument
Vinsobres
Vinsobres
Historic site and monument
Bourdeaux
Bourdeaux
Historic site and monument
Pommerol
Pommerol
Historic site and monument
Soyans
Soyans