This is the eleventh century the lords of Balazuc, powerful family who ruled the Bas-Vivarais, built a tower along the wall that surrounded the village. It was gradually expanded in the thirteenth century. Some famous people include Balazuc Pons, who joined the First Crusade and was killed at the siege of Archas (today Tell Arqa, in north Lebanon), just before the capture of Jerusalem in 1099.
The Overlords Balazuc always remained loyal to the king of France, which explains that, during the religious warfare, the village remained Catholic in the midst of a land that had largely converted to Protestantism. During the French Revolution, the Marquis de Vogüé, whose family had inherited the castle, took flight. Irony or lightness, the castle was sold « by candle » in 1793, and for the sum of 625 pounds (about 3125 euros today). Just a little more than the price of the village oven and forty times less than the mill. The buyer’s name was Louis Mollier and from now on the castle was used as a farm.
In the 19th century, as many properties, Ardèche Castle Balazuc becomes a silk farm embodying the golden age of silk production. In 2002, the descendants of Louis Mollier sold the ruined buildings to a couple from Lyon. Daniel and Virginie Boulenger, restored it and made a beautiful guest house, which you know today. In 2011, the castle is purchased by Luc and Florence Lemaire. In a thousand years, this is only the third time that it has been sold…
https://chateaudebalazuc.com

Château de Balazuc

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The origins of the Château de La Verrerie date back to 1422.
In this year, King Charles VII gave the County of Aubigny to John Stuart, Count of Darnley and Constable of Scotland, in recognition of his loyal services during the Hundred Years’ War in the battle against the English.
A small glass lakeside glass factory, which was demolished in 1815, inspired the name of “La Verrerie”.
However, the château was not built until the end of the 15th century, at which time Béraud Stuart, the grandson of John Stuart, returning from a campaign in Italy, constructed the main house to the side of the Chapel, that joined onto the Renaissance Gallery, which was built in 1525 by Robert Stuart, the son-in-law of Béraud Stuart and a comrade-in-arms of Bayard.
In 1670, the last Stuart of Aubigny died and the Château de La Verrerie, as laid down in King Charles VII deed of donation, was returned to the French crown.
King Louis XIV, acting on a decree of 18 March 1673, gave the land back to Charles II, King of England, who was the direct male descendant of John Stuart. In the same year, at his request, it was given as a gift to his mistress, Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth.
In 1734, the Duke of Richmond, son of Louise de Kérouaille and Charles II inherited the seigniory, raised to a duchy-peerage.
In 1842, the heirs sold the Château and the land of Aubigny to Léonce de Vogüé, the ancestor of the current owners.
In 1895, Marquis Louis de Vogüé built the south wing which now houses the reception rooms and most of the bedrooms.
In 1962, Count Antoine de Vogüé, who had then been Mayor of Oizon since 1953 – and who would go on to become the Cher departmental councillor in 1964 and was re-elected to both positions – settled permanently in the ground floor of the north wing.
In 1965, he opened the château to visitors and joined the Route Jacques Cœur association.
In 1978, his wife, Countess Antoine de Vogüé, opened the ‘La Maison d’Hélène’ restaurant. In 1982, she started welcoming guests to the chambre d’hôtes. She now lives in the large house to the rear of the restaurant, known as the ‘Gros Chêne’.
In 1993, their son Count Béraud de Vogüé and his family took over the family business on their return from Canada and the USA.
The only owner of La Verrerie to have been born there, he works relentlessly to promote La Verrerie and other private châteaux that belong to the association ‘La Route Jacques Cœur’, over which he presides.
Every winter, the association ‘Les Amis du Château de La Verrerie’, which was founded in 1999, organizes concerts in the Grand Salon of the Château.
http://www.chateaudelaverrerie.com

Château de Vogüé

Porte renaissanceThe mason become a castle-owner restores alone this building since 1998.
“Mons Regalis” the royal mount (because its dominating position, puts up at 289m high, its donjon dating from the end of the 12th century. The only witness of this time in this country and its castle dating from the 13th and 16th centuries.
With its magnificent inner Renaissance courtyard, its mullioned windows, hanging balconies, gread screw staircase and vaulted rooms, Montreal is one of the best fleuret of the castral crown of Largentiere, with the castles of Brison, Chassiers, Tauriers, Fanjau (destroyed) Vinezac and Uzer, it kept watch over the silver mines of Largentiere. The bishops of Viviers, Lords of these mines stroke coins in the Middle Age.
From the 13th century to the 19th century several states can be identified. Belong to the first state the 23 meters donjon a narrow masonned mantle-wall and a seigneurial home (aula).
1345, the Romanesque castle built by the Montreal Family, becomes by marriage the possession of the Balazuc Family. At the And of the 14th century a second enceinte more extensive than the first one, having the same plan, and a large building in L are built against the new enceinte. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle knows important modifications. Four three levelled wings, a staircase tower and outside galleries are built. 1636, Montreal becomes again by a marriage, the possession of the Hautefort de Lestrange Family, who opens the great entrance door, and in 1665 orders magnificent Aubusson tapestries in the loving memory of their ancestors, the knights Gontaud de Biron and Pons de Balazuc who took part in the first crusade. 1742, the Merle de Lagorce Family inherits the castle. In 1775, it sells the castle with the donjon and the Joyeuse tower to a certain Simon Lapierre of Montreal who makes of it a vast farm house…
Nowadays, the present owner, Hubert Fenestrier, a mason, fascinated by old buildings, patiently, lonely restores this building in order to open it to visitors.
In summer, medieval animations are set up : theatrical visits, medieval costumes and workshops can help you to discover the medieval know-how and manners.
http://www.chateau-montreal.com

Château de Montréal

The Castle of Largentière, sitting on top of the medieval village, cannot be visited. It belongs to the municipality and is managed by the association Au Delà du Temps that animates it from July 9 to August 24 during the shows "Le Temps des Chevaliers".
In the center, there's a square tower, called "Bastide de Bonnegarde" from the 12th century. 
At the 15th century, under Episcopate of Jean de Montchenu, the castle has been extended. 
From 1716 to 1723, the count of Brison rebuilt the castle inside and outside. During the Revolution, the castle had many functions: first it was a tribunal, then a jail and finally a state police force. 
On June 13th of 1847, the municipality bought it and used it as an hospital – hospice. From 1858, works were executed in order to renovate the castle and make it taller.
In 1996, a new hospital – hospice has been built in Largentière and the renovations of the castle have started.
Today, the castle is open in summer for exhibitions or the medieval campsite organized with "Au Delà Du Temps" troup.
https://en.ardeche-guide.com

Château de Largentière

Figure of the Ardèche civil architecture, the Château d, also called castle of Montlaur is located in the town of Aubenas in the Ardeche department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This "building in metamorphoses" bears the mark of six noble families who lived from the twelfth century until the Revolution. It is the subject of a classification as historical monuments since March 2, 1943.The twelfth century to the Revolution, six noble families succeed. Montlaur family will reign from 1084 to 1441, and built the dungeon, the city wall and the two round towers of the castle, then ditched. The castle will then pass into the hands of Maubec until 1551, followed by the Modena Ornano until 1665, of Harcourt-Lorraine who then bequeathed in 1716 to Vogue, who keep until 1792. The building became property of the city of Aubenas in 1810.
http://www.frenchchateau.net/chateaux-of-rhone-alpes/chateau-d-aubenas.html

Château d'Aubenas

Originally, Château de la Selve was a fortified house first on the frontier of the Empire and then of the Kingdom of France.
It then became the hunting lodge of a famous family from the Vivarais, the Dukes de Joyeuse, before being transformed, century after century, into a farm.
Built during the 13th century, it has the typical architecture of all houses and castles of the Bas-Vivarais.
Located on the bank of the Chassezac, the main Ardèche’s tributary, it benefits from a unique and protected environment.
In 1990, this magnificent house became the property of my parents, Jean-Régis and Magdeleine Chazallon. Today, a wing of the castle has been converted into five Gîtes de France (from 3 to 6 persons). In a large yard planted with trees, they offer a heaven of peace in the heart of the increasingly toured Ardèche.
http://sourgrapeswine.com/chteau-de-la-selve/

Château de la Selve 

Le château Clément se situe sur la commune de Vals-les-Bains dans le département de l'Ardèche.
Le château Clément est construit en 1870 pour être la résidence d’Auguste Clément, cofondateur de la Société Générale des Eaux de Vals ; il s'appelait autrefois, La Châtaigneraie. Réquisitionné pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, établissement d'internement administratif, Vincent Auriol et Marcel Dassault entre autres y ont été emprisonnés. Après la guerre, l'édifice devient une colonie de vacances, propriété de la société IBM. Aujourd'hui le château s'est reconverti en hôtellerie de luxe, chambres d'hôtes et restaurant, il est la propriété de la famille Rojon depuis 2004.
Architecture
Le château est construit en 1577 puis largement remanié à la fin du xixe siècle dans un style plaisance. Le bâtiment aux toits à la Mansarde comprend deux étages flanqués d'échauguettes doublées ainsi que d'une tour à créneaux à l'arrière.
L'intérieur comprend un majestueux escalier en noyer double révolution, des parquets de chêne blond, boiseries sculptées, plafonds à caissons, incrustation de marbre, soieries…

Château Clément

The Chateau des Roure was a strong point on the ancient route by the Pont d’Arc. In the 11th century, a Viraco tower belonging to the Benedictine monks of Virac was mentioned.
It dates back to the end of the 14th/beginning of the 15th century. It belonged to the family of Pierre de Beauvoir de Grimoard du Roure until 1825; then to the Pradier family, whose descendants are the present owners. An important site during the wars of religion, the chateau welcomed the Duc de Rohan (the Huguenot leader) in 1628.
In 1629. Louis XIII and Richelieu ordered the destruction of the defenses of the chateau and of the ramparts of the village. After the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, the Count of Roure renounced the Protestant faith and became Catholic.
During the Camisard revolt in 1703, Jean Chevalier (their leader) attacked the Chateau de Roure and burned the village church.
The Chateau de Roure has been open to the public since 1975 and was classified as a Historic Monument in 1978. From October 2013 till March 2016 important restoration was carried out to return the Chateau des Roure to its original appearance before 1629.
New rooms were opened to the public in Spring 2016.
https://www.chateaudesroure.com

Château des Roure

Alba-la-Romaine is a commune in the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Albains or Albaines.
Geography
Alba-la-Romaine is located some 5 km west of Montelimar on a mountain ridge overlooking the Rhone river valley. The commune can be accessed on Highway N102 running west from Le Teil and through the northern part of the commune and continuing west to Saint-Jean-le-Centenier. Local Road D253 enters the commune from Sceautres in the north and runs south crossing the N102 before continuing to the village of Alba-la-Romaine and then continuing south to Valvigneres. Another district road the D107 commences from the village and goes south to Saint-Thome. There is an extensive network of small country roads throughout the commune.
There are extensive areas of farmland in the commune especially following the ridge line from north to south as well as steep mountain slopes. An extensive network of streams throughout the commune run into L'Escoutay river which runs south out of the commune then east to join the Rhone near Viviers. The western border of the commune is formed by the Ruisseau de Julieu. Le Rounei, and Le Ruisseau de Berg streams which flow into Le Salauzon stream which is part of the southern border of the commune before eventually joining L'Escoutay river.
There are a few villages and hamlets in the commune including: Les Baumes, Le Buis d'Alpes, La Roche, Saint-Philippe, and Le Pont. A metre-gauge railway line traverses the north of the commune but the nearest station is at Saint-Jean-le-Centenier.
There are also the remains of a Roman city and a medieval village in the commune.
Toponymy
Alba-la-Romaine town was founded in Roman times and bore the name Alba Helviorum ("Alba of the Helvii," an ancient Celtic people). It was the capital of the Helvii and became the episcopal see during the 4th century. From the Middle Ages until 1904, it bore the name Aps, the family name of the local proprietors.
The origin of the name Alba is not Latin as may be thought (in Latin albus meaning 'white') but pre-Celtic or Celtic.
The current name of the village was formalized on 30 May 1986. Previously the village had been called only Alba.
History
It has been assumed that when the city of Alba was founded at the beginning of the Roman Empire it was the successor, as often occurred in Gaul, of an earlier city. The existence of a protohistoric oppidum Chaulène on the plateau, northwest of Alba, is in fact likely. The assumption of a lowland habitat can also be used as the excavations to the west of the "St. Peter" site have yielded the remains of stone tools dating from the late third millennium. At the location of two "domus" south-east of the "home field Lauzun" site, a habitat was found of La Tène III (first century BC.) The discovery of imported ceramics of "Campanian type A" which debris was also collected in "Saint-Pierre" such as collars, handles, and lips of wine amphorae from Italy and some Allobrogian currency issued in the third quarter of the 1st century AD revealed a long term relationship with the Romans before the invasion. Other hill forts are known in the territory of Helviens such as Jastres North.
When Bituitos, the Chief of the Arverni people who were located beyond the Cevennes, was defeated in 121 BC by the Roman consul Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus, Alba was already the capital of the Helviens territory which corresponded approximately to the current department of the Ardeche. Their neighbours were Segusiavi: to the north-west the Vellaves Gabales and to the south Volques Arécomiques. Fabius Maximus managed to separate the Helviens the Allobroges and Arverni and draw them into alliance with Rome. They obtained the title of allies and friends of Rome and Julius Caesar observed, on his arrival in Gaul, that they were independent and had their own customs and administration. In 83 BC Cabur, the Chief of the helviens obtained Roman citizenship under the name of Gaius Valerius Caburus and his son Gaius Valerius Troucillus became a friend of Julius Caesar. The pro-Roman politics of the Helviens allowed Caesar to install his forces near the Arverni. After winning over the Helvie and its capital Alba there was major economic development.
Subsequently, Augustus Caesar conferred on Alba the privilege of Roman law. First attached to the province of Aquitaine in the time of Strabo, it appears to have been integrated into the province of Narbonne.
"The Starting point of the Roman roads to Valencia, Vienna, and Lyon by the banks of the Rhone, another to Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Narbonne, and finally to Gergovie. Apart from the roads, Alba was the centre of an agricultural region, especially for wine, and a regional trading centre of Gaul.... Alba was from the first century a major city", said Marcel Le Glay, "although not equaling the splendour of Arles, Orange, Nimes or Vienna. Until its peak in the second century, Alba developed on two axes: south on the terraces of Escoutay and north in the "Bagnols" district located near the valley the Rhone below the Massif Central.
At the time of the Christianization of the city, the first episcopal see of the region remains uncertain, ranging from the late first century or that of the second century. After its decline, probably from the late third century, the city lost its episcopal function in the middle of the fourth century to the benefit of Viviers. The ancient site was abandoned and a new settlement was made in the Middle Ages in the location of the present village.
The names of the Bishops of Alba are known to us through a document written in 950 by the Bishop of Viviers (Thomas II): the Charta Vetus: they were called Januarius, Septimius, Maspicianus, Melanus and Auxonius. The existence of a Bishop Avolus is a popular tradition (Yves Esquieu). This was attributed to the Alemanni at the destruction of Alba Helvorium in 406 AD.
Bishop Avolus was put to death and his successor Bishop Auxionus established the fortified town of Viviers which gave him his diocese name Vivarais. Yves Esquieu gave a transfer date around 475 but if so then the transfer would have been done by Promotus, a successor of Bishop Auxonius.
Against the wall of the Jewish cemetery in the northern district of Bonn, Germany there is a relief from the tombstone of the first known inhabitant of Bonn: namely a Roman soldier who came in 35 AD from Helviorium Alba (Alba-La-Romaine today). The tombstone inscription, translated from Latin means:
"Here lies Publius Clodius, son of Plubius, from the Voltinia Region, born at Alba, soldier of the first legion, 48 years old, died after 25 years of service.".

Alba-la-Romaine

Les ruines très bien conservées du château de Boulogne sont situées sur la commune de Saint-Michel-de-Boulogne dans le département de l'Ardèche.
Histoire
L'histoire de ce château est intimement liée à celle de la famille de Lestrange , proche de la cour royale à partir du xive siècle, et le mariage du baron de l' Estrange (catholique) avec Madame de la Tour-Chambaud (protestante) fut à l'origine d'un épisode des guerres de Religion, et se termina par le Siège de Privas par les troupes de Louis XIII.
Architecture
Au xie siècle, seuls un donjon carré et une chapelle existaient. C'est au xive siècle que trois grandes tours rondes et des courtines sont rajoutées pour renforcer l'édifice. Le château est transformé en résidence renaissance au xvie siècle, vers 1550. La Salle des Gardes, les écuries, le grand pont terrasse de l'entrée, le châtelet et son portail renaissance, muni d'une sculpture de la tête de Marie de Langeac, datent de cette époque. Le château est en ruines, mais elles sont régulièrement consolidées.
Monument historique
Les vestiges du château de Boulogne ont été classés aux Monuments historiques, par arrêté du 17 juillet 1915.

Château de Boulogne

The Château de Saint-Montan is a castle in the commune of the same name, in the Ardèche department. Built in the eleventh century for military purposes, it reaches over time a residential purpose. Very touched by the wars of religion, it remains abandoned until the late 1960s, where for forty years, nearly 10 000 volunteers will succeed to revive the castle and its town. The oldest parts of the castle date from the tenth century, the fortress was then extended in its lower part until the fourteenth century. During the sixteenth century, during the wars of religion, the castle and the medieval town suffer greatly. The village fell to the Protestants in 1563, and then in the spring of 1570, the Coligny army captures the castle. In 1609, the castle-fortress seemed uninhabitable and required 8,700 pounds of repairs. In 1649, for 117 pounds, a gap of nine meters long was clogged, but probably no other remedy was taken. During the Revolution, the fortress is sold. First used as a farm, it will end in a stone quarry. The village, then uninhabited, falling apart in the early twentieth century. It was only from 1969, over a period of forty years, that the entire medieval village was restored by volunteers, including scouts, school children and students.
http://www.frenchchateau.net/chateaux-of-rhone-alpes/chateau-de-saint-montan.html