- Destination
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, recognized as a Remarkable Taste Site in 2006 and France's 1st AOC since 1936, is also a charming village of 2,100 inhabitants situated on a rocky hillside. Summer residence of the Avignon popes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape still preserves the remains of its château des papes.
Thanks to its location along the Rhône River, its architectural heritage bears witness to its history as a fortified village and holiday resort. It is also a typically Provencal village, inviting you to enjoy the good life and discover its gourmet terroir.
Remarkable taste site
The "Site Remarquable du Goût" is a French tourist and gastronomic recognition awarded to communes, localities or traditional agri-food establishments.
Castles and estates
With 3,128 ha in production and 320 winery owners in the 5 communes of the Pays d'Orange en Provence, discover the region's Châteaux and estates. Visits, tastings, activities, stores, workshops, local produce...
Interactive map
All the best addresses in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
La grande Fontaine
Like any typical Provencal village, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a main watering place, the Grande Fontaine, where men and animals used to come to quench their thirst and washerwomen to meet around the washhouse (1744) that stood next to it until 1977, when it was demolished.
The spring that feeds this fountain is located several kilometers away, on the outskirts of the village, in a place called Grand Pierre. The Grande Fontaine de Châteauneuf-du-Pape is first mentioned in a document dating from 1635, but its construction certainly goes back further. It is one of the so-called "prestige" fountains with an important decorative role. Embellished with sculptures and ornaments, it is ideally situated in the Place du Portail (the town's former main entrance) for all to see.
Over the centuries, the Grande Fontaine has sometimes stopped flowing. Residents were then forced to fetch water for daily tasks from the "Souspiron" fountain (200 meters below) or, in certain years, from the Rhône. With the landing in Provence, the occupying forces retreated.
A Miraculous Fountain
Every year in August, Châteauneuf-du-Pape dons its festive finery and plunges back into its glorious medieval past. It is said that the Grande Fontaine, as the Sovereign Pontiff passes by, starts spitting out the good wine from our vines. Popular fantasy or legend, there's no legend without a grain of truth. To find out for yourself, join us on the first weekend of August for the Fête médiévale de la Véraison.
The Great Portal and the fortifications
In the 11th century, the Viscounts Béranger built the present-day church, a defense tower and ramparts at the top of the hill to draw the villagers under their protection and thus benefit from royalties.
By 1344, the village had grown to two thousand inhabitants. A second ring of ramparts was then built, the course of which is still visible today (Rue Commandant Lemaître and Rue de la République) and protected the town until the mid-19th century. Over the centuries, these walls were damaged and eventually demolished as the village expanded.
The bottom of Rue Joseph Ducos is the site of the old fortified gateway, the main entrance to the town. Known as the "Porte d'Avignon" or "Grand Portail", it was equipped with a drawbridge in the Middle Ages. Renovated over the centuries, it was destroyed in 1842.
La Chapelle Saint-Théodorit
This little chapel is undoubtedly the oldest monument in the village, as attested by the burials found in the cemetery that surrounds the building at the time. Built in the 11th century, it marks the center of the first village. It is dedicated to Saint Theodorit, priest of Antioch, martyred by the Romans and patron saint of the village until 1893.
This Romanesque-style chapel features a single round-vaulted nave, a semicircular apse and lintelled windows. Renovation work carried out in 1984-1985 restored the deteriorating monument and uncovered several remains of frescoes from different periods. The main part of these frescoes depicts the apostles. These remains, strongly influenced by Byzantine art, date from the 12th century and are unique in the region. A mystical soul naturally emanates from this old sanctuary, witness to centuries of village history.
The restaurants
Discover its traditional and gourmet restaurantsWith a choice of magnificent views over the surrounding vineyards or creative cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients and, of course, excellent local wine selections.
The Town Hall
Under the Ancien Régime, the town's administration was organized around three consuls, elected for one year by all heads of household.
Since 1764, this mansion has housed the "Maison Commune et Consulaire", and to this day, the Hôtel de Ville of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Seat of the municipal administration, it was also at this time the place where the archives were preciously kept, in which were recorded the acknowledgements of rights and privileges obtained throughout the centuries by the inhabitants.
The oldest parchment dates from 1157, a copy of a 10th-century manuscript.
The first floor of the Hôtel de Ville was used as a schoolhouse until 1850, and collective memory has it that it was also used as a prison for a time...
Rue de l'église, also known as "Rompe cul" street
Opposite you, steep and craggy, Rue de l'Eglise, which hasn't always been so named. The village elders still call it "Rompe Cul" street, from the Provençal "Roumpo qiéu" meaning "Break ass".
Although difficult to climb, be even more careful on the way down!
It's said in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that there have been so many falls over the centuries, that you can still hear the screams and curses of the victims on this street. So, if you're reading this, be warned!
Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption
The community's original church was built in the 11th century at the same time as
the city's first rampart. Romanesque in style and small in size (18 meters long by 5.40 meters wide), it consisted of a single nave and was located inside the fortified enclosure. Completely altered over the centuries, only part of today's chancel remains of this primitive church.
In 1321, Pope John XXII commissioned the construction of a side chapel dedicated to Saint Martin. In 1551, another chapel was built, dedicated to Saint Anne. At the time, both chapels were attached to the rampart. At the south-east corner of the church stood a defensive tower, whose loopholes are still visible today. This tower, which now supports the present-day bell tower, belonged to the community, which for centuries kept its archives there and installed a clock there in the 16th century.
The parish church underwent two periods of major modification. Between 1783 and 1784, "threatening ruin", the bishop ordered work to be carried out, enlarging the nave and demolishing the steeple for lack of funds. Between 1853 and 1859, to make up for the lack of space, "a small nave to the north and another to the south of the existing one" were built, considerably increasing the church's surface area.
The chapels of Sainte Anne and Saint Martin were sacrificed for the expansion. The bell tower was rebuilt on the site of the former defense tower. Dedicated to Notre-Dame in 1321, then to Saint Théodorit in 1504, it is now dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption.
The landmark
This landmark, found in 1980 at a place called Montbuisson, marked the boundary between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the principality of Orange.
In its original location, the north-west face marked with a horn faces Orange. The south-east face faces Châteauneuf. The horn was the coat of arms of the principality of Orange. On the other side, the Latin cross certainly symbolized Pontifical power.
THE PAPAL CASTLE
It was Pope John XXII who chose to build a residence at "Châteauneuf Calcernier", now Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which was both a holiday resort and, above all, a defense post.
Located to the north of the papal city, the site borders the principality of Orange. Its strategic position, high up and on the banks of the Rhône, enabled it to control the access route from the north. Construction of the château began in 1317, a year after the election of Jean XXII, and was completed in 1333, a year before his death. The village was also fortified and a new, larger enclosure built. Evidence of this work can be found as early as 1316, a year before the castle was built.
Pope Clement VII spent the most time at the Château. Other towns, such as Sorgues and Malaucène, were also secondary residences of the Popes, but very few architectural features from this period remain.
The castle after the Popes
Après le départ de la Papauté à Rome au début de XVe siècle, la volonté et les ressources pour entretenir le château firent défaut. Les évêques ou archevêques d’Avignon qui en avaient la responsabilité s’en dégagèrent et il fut laissé à l’abandon. Cependant, au cours des guerres de religion, son emplacement stratégique lui permet de reprendre du service.
Au XVIIe siècle, malgré son délabrement, le site est toujours occupé, des restaurations et réparations sont engagées. De nombreux prix-faits témoignent de ces travaux et permettent, dans une moindre mesure, d’avoir connaissance de l’état de conservation du château et de la nature des travaux entrepris.
En 1798, à la fin de la Révolution Française, le château et son domaine sont vendus aux enchères, à un certain J.B. Establet, agissant au nom d’une trentaine de ses concitoyens. Un an plus tard, il le revend à parts égales à ses commanditaires.
C’est en 1892 que le château sera classé Monument Historique.
Lors de la seconde guerre mondiale, les Allemands investissent le site et transforment le donjon (115 m d’altitude) en dépôt d’armes et en poste d’observation antiaérien. Suite au débarquement de Provence, menacés par l’arrivée des troupes alliées, le 20 août 1944, les troupes allemandes font sauter le donjon, détruisant ainsi toute la partie Nord du château. Seule une face du donjon, au sud et le cellier restèrent intacts. La façade ouest, bien que déjà en ruines, résiste à l’explosion et montre encore par ses fenêtres la disposition en trois étages du château.
In 1960, the town council decided to build a reception hall in the Pontifical Cellar. Work was carried out, and the room was restored to its former splendor for ceremonies such as those organized by the Echansonnerie des Papes.
In 2013, waterproofing work was carried out by the municipality. This work will be followed by the interior refurbishment and accessibility of the Pontifical Cellar.
700 ans se sont écoulés depuis sa construction et malgré les outrages des guerres et du temps, les vestiges du Château Pontifical, arrosés de soleil, restent fièrement dressés au sommet de la colline, couronnant le village.
