Tournon

Tournon is located in the heart of the Rhône Valley, just fifteen minutes from Valence, at the mouth of the Doux river.

Tournon is located in the heart of the Rhône Valley, around fifteen minutes from Valence, just at the mouth of the Doux river. This small town of 10,000 inhabitants is set in an extraordinary landscape of hillsides planted with the finest Côte du Rhône vines.

Near Mas de la Fontenette

Less than 3/4 of an hour’s drive from Mas de la Fontenette (gite with 4-star heated swimming pool and wellness area in the Ardèche gorges), this is an interesting visit.

Europe’s 1st cable suspension bridge

Built in 1825 between Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage by Marc Seguin, Europe’s first cable suspension bridge was destroyed in 1965. A second one replaced it in 1849, and it was restored in 1989, preserving its beautiful wooden deck. It is used exclusively by pedestrians.

Tournon Castle

The Tournon castle-museum is one of the most beautiful castles in the Ardèche. Its massive character and elevated position give it an imposing appearance. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, its architecture bears witness to the evolution of society between the medieval period and the beginnings of the Renaissance.

Once through the heavy Renaissance studded wooden door, listed as a Historic Monument, you enter the main courtyard. The huge, austere wall on the right is the last remaining evidence of the medieval keep, later known as Château St-Just. The Hall of Coat of Arms displays the coats of arms of the Lords of Tournon and their allies. The Hélène de Tournon room is the imaginary bedroom of a young Renaissance girl who died in despair of love.

As for the Salle de la Batellerie, it gives pride of place to the Rhône. Bargemen’s crosses, chests, capstans and model boats all bear witness to navigation on the river in days gone by. The central showcase displays the model of the first suspension bridge built in 1825 by Marc Seguin. The paintings gallery features works by local painters from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Chapelle Saint Vincent houses a magnificent triptych by Capassin dated 1555. The central panel depicts a resurrection, the one on the right the cardinal at prayer and the one on the left the Emmaus pilgrims. From the terraces, the château offers a magnificent view of the Rhône valley and the Vercors mountains. The Lycée Gabriel-Faure, founded in 1536, is the second oldest lycée in France. The school’s most famous resident was the poet Stéphane Mallarmé, shown here in a medallion painted by Edouard Manet.

Tournon’s old library

The old library contains over 13,000 volumes, including works published in Tournon in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Jesuit chapel was built between 1673 and 1714. It is used for a number of concerts. Built in the early 14th century, the Collégiale Saint Julien is the town’s most important religious building. It has great architectural qualities and a rich interior decoration, thanks to its chapter of 7 canons.

The great organ dates from the 18th century. To the left of the nave, the chapel of the penitents with its superb 16th-century frescoes is the oldest part of the church. The tourist office, housed in an old stone mansion, organises tours of the town. The Porte des Mauves is the only one of the town’s three gates to have survived the destruction of the ramparts in 1787. Let’s take a stroll down the Grand-rue and through the narrow streets of the beautifully restored old town centre. Here is the Fay-Solignac town house, with its tower topped by a turret.