Castle of Grignan
Continuous opening from 10h to 18h
At the heart of the Drôme Provençale, overlooking plains and mountains, the castle Grignan is built on a rocky promontory overlooking the village. Witness of Renaissance architecture and French classicism, the building has had a turbulent history. Castle mentioned in the 11th century, it was transformed in the Renaissance into a prestigious pleasure house by the family of Adhémar. In the 17th century, the Marquise de Sevigne stayed there with her daughter Françoise-Marguerite. Dismantled during the Revolution and rebuilt in the early 20th century, since 1979 it has belonged to the Department of Drôme.
As part of the heritage theme of arts and entertainment, the castle invites the public to try out different historical outdoor games.
Animations at the castle of Grignan:
Free visit of the castle.
Discovery of historical games with the association A vous de jouer (Valérie Karpouchko): Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00.
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Castle of Adhémar - Montélimar
Open continuously from 10h to 18h - Free
Overlooking the city of Montélimar, the castral site is composed of a Romanesque chapel (11C), a keep (13C) and a fortified enclosure and a seigniorial dwelling (12C), rare example of a civil architecture
Until December 31, 2019, the castle exhibits the works of two artists, Thibault Franc and Frédérique Nalbandian as part of the exhibition César Faces à face in co-production with the Museum of Contemporary Art Saint-Martin de Montélimar.
Thibault Franc creates sculptures by accumulating everyday objects from pop and fun culture. He also shares with Caesar a lush and playful imagination, crossed by imaginary animals.
The installation of Frédérique Nalbandian in the chapel is based on the work of a flagship material: soap. In the manner of Caesar, she experiments with the states of this material.
Animations at Montelimar Castle:
Free visit of the castle and the Caesar exhibition face to face.
Guided tours with mediators: regular departures from 10:30, last departure at 17:00.
Guided tour of the exhibition at the Musée Art Contemporain: 10h, 12h, 15h, 17h.
Meeting with the artist Thibault Franc on Saturday from 14:30 and Sunday from 10:30 to 15:30.
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Castle of Suze-la-Rousse
Continuous opening from 10h to 18h
Built on a rocky promontory, the medieval fortress of Suze-la-Rousse is a spectacular military structure protected by towers and a rampart. It is transformed in the 16th and the 18th century into a large house. At the edge of the castle, listed as a historical monument, the walls of a game of palm still rise.
Born in the Middle Ages, the game of palm is at the origin of all the current games in which the ball is hit by hand, the racket or the bat. It was during the Renaissance that this hobby enjoyed a golden age. The game of palm castle Suze-la-Rousse is a unique example in France dating from that time. King Charles IX probably played during his visit in September 1564.
Activities at the castle of Suze:
- Guided tour with Guillaume Roquefort, archaeologist and Serge Vaucelle, sports historian. They will deliver the fruit of the study carried out within the framework of a mission entrusted by the Departmental Conservation of the Heritage. Regular departures Saturday and Sunday from 10:30.
- Initiation to the game of palm by the Departmental Committee of the sport in rural environment, Saturday and Sunday from 14h30.
