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
Rimon-et-Savel
Rimon-et-Savel
Historic site and monument
Livron-sur-Drôme
Livron-sur-Drôme
Historic site and monument
La Laupie
La Laupie
Historic site and monument
Chabrillan
Chabrillan
Historic site and monument
Cliousclat
Cliousclat
Historic site and monument
Allan
Allan
Historic site and monument
Saint-Sauveur-en-Diois
Saint-Sauveur-en-Diois
Historic site and monument
Le Poët-en-Percip
Le Poët-en-Percip
Historic site and monument
Crest
Crest
Historic site and monument
Puygiron
Puygiron
Historic site and monument
La Garde-Adhémar
La Garde-Adhémar
Historic site and monument
Montclar-sur-Gervanne
Montclar-sur-Gervanne
Historic site and monument
Chantemerle-Lès-Grignan
Chantemerle-lès-Grignan
Historic site and monument
Piégros-la Clastre
Piégros-la-Clastre
Historic site and monument
Eurre
Eurre
Historic site and monument
Mérindol-les-Oliviers
Mérindol-les-Oliviers
Historic site and monument
Sainte-Jalle
Sainte-Jalle
Historic site and monument
Reilhanette
Reilhanette
Historic site and monument
Bourdeaux
Bourdeaux
Historic site and monument
Grignan
Grignan
Historic site and monument
Montségur-sur-Lauzon
Montségur-sur-Lauzon
Historic site and monument
Rochefort-en-Valdaine
Rochefort-en-Valdaine
Historic site and monument
Village d'Arpavon
Arpavon
Historic site and monument
Mirmande
Mirmande
Historic site and monument
Savasse
Savasse
Historic site and monument
Verclause
Verclause
Historic site and monument
Espenel
Espenel
Historic site and monument
Chamaret
Chamaret
Historic site and monument
Saint May
Saint-May
Historic site and monument
Le Poët-Laval
Le Poët-Laval
Historic site and monument
Bellecombe Tarendol
Bellecombe-Tarendol
Historic site and monument
Discovery tour of Saint-Restitut
Saint-Restitut
Historic site and monument
Saint-Benoît-en-Diois
Saint-Benoit-en-Diois
Historic site and monument
Soyans
Soyans
Historic site and monument
Cornillon sur l'Oule
Cornillon-sur-l'Oule
Historic site and monument
Discovery tour of Clansayes
Clansayes