The best walks and hikes around Vaunaveys-La-Rochette

Magnificent viewpoint

Crest Castle is the ruin of a hilltop castle above the southern French commune of Crest in the Drôme department. Its preserved keep, at 52 meters high, is probably the highest in France and has been listed as a historical monument since June 1877. Crest Castle was built in several phases from the 10th century to the second half of the 14th century. It was owned by the French crown from 1419 onwards. Louis XIII had it demolished in 1633, with the exception of the keep, which still stands today. The tower then served as a prison until the mid-19th century. In 1988, the commune of Crest acquired it from the French state. The tower has a floor area of 20 by 32 meters and a height of 52 meters. Portcullises, defensive bay windows, and loopholes bear witness to its past as a medieval fortification. The tower has 15 rooms, which were used as living quarters in the Middle Ages and as prison cells after 1633. Numerous graffiti date from this period, including those by Protestants imprisoned there. Source: Wikipedia A tour of the tower is open to the public. The current cost is €10 per adult. The bravest can abseil down the tower's east wall from a height of 42 meters, but this wasn't possible during our visit, presumably due to a lack of tourists.

The ruins of Savel are the remains of an ancient medieval castle. The walls of Château de Savel housed many noble families documented since 1163. At the end of the 13th century, in 1288, the fortress passed into the possession of the Counts of Valentinois. The construction of a stone wall approximately 1.40 m thick, extending more than 100 m from east to west and enclosing the former high courtyard between the various former towers and the residence, was also completed under the Counts of Valentinois in the 14th century. After the death of Louis II of Poitiers in 1419, the last count of that name, the fortress of Gigors passed into royal possession. The fortress included a castle chapel dedicated to Saint Marcel, which was described as a ruin in 1644. The site contains significant remains of artificial landscaping. The rock was excavated to isolate the tower of a keep to the south, and a lower courtyard was created to the north. Indeed, the château offered a sweeping view of the valleys of the Drôme and its tributaries, the Sye and Gervanne, leading to the Vercors. The importance of this strategic point seems to explain the determination with which the demolition crews used explosives, presumably at the end of the Wars of Religion, to destroy the château and the manor house located west of the fortress.

blooms at the end of July

Pretty views of the river Drome and the valley in both directions, with the tower of Crest visible above the town in a third direction. The bridge has a specific pedestrian/cycle path with seating all the way along it so you can have a good view of the river while catching your breath.

Crest is a small town in the Drôme Valley. It is the gateway to the Vercors from the west.

This path offers a beautiful course on the heights of Crest. The views of the surrounding fields and mountains are stunning as you run along the ridge line.

Here, we find the river which gives its name to the department. The changing colors depending on the time of day and the weather make it a real impressionist painting. This point also offers an excellent view of the Tour de Crest.