Privas

Mas de la Fontenette 20/01/2025 Activities and leisure in Southern Ardèche, Activities in the Ardèche, Old villages in the Ardèche

Privas is the capital of the Ardèche département in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Privas is the least populated of France’s prefectures, with 8,313 inhabitants according to the latest INSEE census in 2021.

At an altitude of 300 metres and surrounded by hills, Privas, the prefecture of the Ardèche, is located around ten kilometres from the Rhône valley. The town lies on a rocky outcrop overlooking the narrow Ouvèze and Charalon valleys.

Architectural evidence of the past in Privas

A former Huguenot capital in the 16th and 17th centuries, Privas was besieged during the Wars of Religion. It was destroyed in 1629 by the royal troops of Louis XIII.

In the old town, the city still boasts a number of architectural reminders of its former glory.

The Diane de Poitiers Tower

The Diane de Poitiers Tower dates from the 15th century. In pure Renaissance style, it includes a spiral staircase leading to flats. These served as residences for the administrators of the barony of Privas. The Louis XIII bridge dates from the 12th century. It was badly damaged during the siege of Privas in 1629. King Louis XIII had it repaired with the aim of improving all the roads leading to Privas.

Chapel of the Récollets

The chapel of the Récollets was built between 1684 and 1692, during the reign of Louis XIV, on the site of the old château destroyed in 1620. In 1790, the buildings were requisitioned and transformed into a revolutionary court. In this chapel, you can see 3 paintings listed as historic monuments. Saint Louis à la bataille de Damiette by Tardieu-Cochin. An Episode in the Life of Joan of Arc by Mongin. The Captivity of the Jews of Babylon by Girodon. You can also admire an Aubusson tapestry.

The media library

Saint Thomas church was built in 1686 on the site of a former Reformed church. It now houses the media library. The old town was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries using the layout from before the siege of 1629. The new church of Saint Thomas, built further west, is much more recent, dating from 1884.

Sainte Marie Hospital

A little higher up, the Sainte Marie hospital boasts a superb, monumental chapel, built in the 19th century. You can admire the exterior architecture. The foundation stone for the belfry was laid in 1937. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the old streets of the town come alive with a market selling delicious local produce.

Mount Toulon

The site of a former citadel razed in 1629, Mont Toulon is home to SARRABEZOLLES’ Piéta. Guided tours of the old town are organised by the tourist office.

The Coiron tourist route

To the south-west of the town, the Coiron tourist route takes you across a basalt plateau rising to an altitude of 800m. It offers a number of viewpoints. The typical basalt stone landscapes contrast with the wind farm.