Saint-Montan
Discover the village of Saint-Montan
Perched on its pedestal on the Agache rock, Saint-Montan stands like a watchful sentinel. Often illuminated by the deep sunshine of the southern Ardèche, its ochre facades stand out against the limestone of the rocks used to build it. Saint-Montan is listed as a Village de Caractère. You’ll love wandering through the narrow streets, from the keep to the castle esplanade, from the chapels of San Samonta to Sainte-Marie Madeleine, from the manor houses to the artists’ cellars, from the Portalet spring to the Eylieux stream.
Tourism hasn’t always been a priority at Saint-Montan. Although the village is now one of the most beautiful in the southern Ardèche, it was doomed in the 1970s. Its reconstruction owes its salvation to a handful of passionate men and women. Saint-Montan was rebuilt stone by stone by more than 20,000 local and international volunteers, in particular during the summer thanks to youth work camps.
Visit Saint-Montan castle
Originally built for military purposes in the 11th century, the Saint-Montan castle became a residential site over time. The fortified castle, built on the rocky spur of the Agache rock, is the starting point of the present-day village. Over the centuries, housing developed on the rocky slopes overlooked by the castle. As these settlements grew, the ramparts were extended to protect the houses. Severely affected by the Wars of Religion, Saint-Montan castle remained abandoned until the late 1960s, before being restored between 1997 and 2017 by the Friends of Saint-Montan association, with the help of local and international volunteers. Today, the castle stands proudly on its rocky spur.
In summer, a medieval camp is set up at Saint-Montan castle. The perfect opportunity to push open the door and enter the castle grounds. For one day, become co-lord of the castle and take the whole family on a historical and humorous journey, with interactive workshops and shows.
Hiking at Saint-Montan in the Gorges de la Sainte-Beaume
L’un des plus jolis points de vue sur le village de Saint-Montan se trouve sur le sentier de randonnée de l’Ermitage de la Sainte-Beaume. Une boucle de 3h à pied, plutôt réservée à un public de randonneurs avertis à cause de ses passages abruptes, qui vous emmène entre Saint-Montan et Larnas, au-dessus des Gorges de la Sainte-Beaume. Parmi les temps forts de cette balade: les points de vue exceptionnels sur le village de caractère de Saint-Montan, son centre historique et son château, la Grotte de l’Ermite Montanus, qui donna son nom au village, et la vue sur la vallée du Rhône et le Mont Ventoux.
One of the prettiest views of the village of Saint-Montan is from the Ermitage de la Sainte-Beaume hiking trail. A 3-hour loop on foot, reserved for more experienced hikers because of its steep sections, which takes you between Saint-Montan and Larnas, above the Gorges de la Sainte-Beaume. Among the highlights of this walk are the exceptional views over the characterful village of Saint-Montan, its historic centre and castle, the Grotte de l’Ermite Montanus, which gave its name to the village, and the view over the Rhône valley and Mont Ventoux.
More infos on the Ermitage of Sainte-Beaume hiking
