An easy circular walk, a Château viewed from the outside, and a geological trail offer different highlights in La Charce. The village also has a character shaped by limestone and sandstone. For planning, it helps to keep these themes separate: the walking route is clearly defined by its length and ascent, the Château is primarily about its history of construction and ownership, and Serre de l’Âne is about Earth’s history. This way, you can decide how you would like to spend your time in La Charce.
Stone architecture in the village
The village is built from limestone and sandstone; sandstone was used in La Charce mainly for cornerstones and surrounds. The choice of materials is evident not only in the types of rock, but also in how they were used. If you are interested in architecture, this offers a different perspective from the history of the Château: here, the focus is on building materials and construction methods in the village, while there it is on a single historic building.
The Château: history and exterior
The Château de La Charce was remodelled in the 16th century by the Protestant captain René de la Tour-Gouvernet. It was owned by Philis de La Charce (1645–1703), a celebrated heroine of the Dauphiné. The remains of the Château were listed as a Monument historique by decree on 13 July 1926. The Château can only be visited from the outside. The dates refer to different things: the 16th century marks the remodelling, while 13 July 1926 is the date of the decree listing the remains. The building’s history and its protected status therefore belong to different periods.
A tradition that continues
A local tradition that continues can also be seen beyond the Château’s history: even today, most of La Charce’s residents are buried in Protestant family cemeteries.
Geology at Serre de l’Âne
At Serre de l’Âne, Earth’s history takes centre stage. The cliff provides a continuous record of Earth’s history spanning more than five million years. Serre de l’Âne has been designated an Espace Naturel Sensible because of its significant geological interest and is part of the worldwide network of 25 boundary stratotypes, which serve as geological reference points. The long record and the reference function represent two aspects of its geological significance: a continuous account of Earth’s history and a point of comparison for geologists. The Chemin des temps géologiques at Serre de l’Âne helps visitors understand the geological phenomenon visible there. Serre de l’Âne is free to visit and open every day throughout the year. Before visiting, check locally for any temporary access restrictions.
An easy circular walk
The “LA CHARCE – Col de la Loubière” walking route is an easy circular walk covering 6.1 km with 211 metres of ascent. These details help you assess the scale of the walk: 6.1 km is the route length, 211 metres is the ascent, and the easy rating is a separate assessment of its difficulty. This makes it possible to check whether this type of walk suits the level of activity you have planned for your trip.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Valence, Andancette, La Roche-Sur-Le-Buis, Manthes, Montboucher-Sur-Jabron, Boulc, Vaunaveys-La-Rochette, Aulan
For the broader travel overview: Drôme.
