
The old village of Labastide de Virac
This village stands out on the road to the famous Aven d’Orgnac from Vallon Pont d’Arc, close to the fabulous Chauvet cave. Labastide de Virac marks the most peaceful part of the Ardèche Gorges. The villave offers some of the most beautiful walks leading to the Ardèche Gorges. The word bastide means fortified place.
The old village of Labastide de Virac
On its rocky outcrop, this small, unspoilt medieval village retains a picturesque charm that is the envy of the surrounding villages. Fortifications once surrounded the entire village, which huddled around the castle.
The 300 inhabitants of Labastid invite you into their village with its cobbled streets. Stroll through the old houses built of local stone. Ancestral doors, sundials and other particularities will punctuate your stroll. The village is surrounded by peaceful green countryside. Like many villages in the southern Ardèche, Labastide de Virac has a church and a temple.
The castle
Dominating the village with its imposing stature, the 15th-century castle is a listed historic monument. It was built on the borders of the Languedoc and Vivarais regions to watch over access to the Pont d’Arc. This natural arch spans the River Ardèche, a passageway from north to south.
The local lord was a Protestant, while Louis XIII and Richelieu were Catholics. The victors ordered the total destruction of the village ramparts and certain floors of the castle.
The castle’s towers and watchtowers were rebuilt in 2017.
A visit to this beautiful château will give you an insight into the unique history of the Wars of Religion and the Camisard revolt. One of the building’s many rooms houses a silkworm farm. In the silk eco-museum, you can learn about the different stages in the production of silk thread, from the cocoon to the fabric.
Finally, the recently restored walkway offers a superb 360° panoramic view.
A 4-star gite with swimming pool
Mas de la Fontenette in Labastide de Virac is a 4-star gite in the Ardèche with a heated infinity pool, wellness area and fantastic views of the Cévennes. See prices and availability.
A little prehistory
The “Combe-d’Oulin” cave contains fossil deposits as well as Aurignacian paintings.
Just on the other side of the Pont d’Arc is the famous Chauvet cave. Its cave paintings date back more than 36,000 years.
A little history
A hotbed of the Wars of Religion until the Camisards revolt, the Château des Roure is thought to have been built in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. It belonged to the family of Pierre de Beauvoir de Grimoard du Roure until 1825 (the Count of Roure was a Protestant).
In 1628, it became a hotbed of the Wars of Religion. It played host to the Huguenot leader, the Duke of Rohan, during the siege of the Château de Salavas. In 1629, Louis XIII and Richelieu had the defensive parts of the castle and the village ramparts destroyed.
Following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, the Comte de Roure abjured the Protestant religion and became a Catholic. In 1703, Jean Cavalier (Camisard leader) took the Château de La Bastide de Virac and burnt down the church.
In conclusion, Labastide de Virac, and in particular the Mas de la Fontenette and its gite with heated swimming pool, is a haven of freedom and tranquillity close to all tourist activities.
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