Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche
This cosy medieval village, with its ochre-coloured walls and narrow streets paved with Rhone pebbles, is certainly full of charm. Surrounded by ramparts, the little town is famous for its cave (Saint-Marcel), its vineyards in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône and its emblematic monuments such as the Château de Bernis and the chapel of Saint-Sulpice.
The Saint-Marcel cave
The Saint-Marcel cave, whose official entrance is in the commune of Bidon, is one of the not-to-be-missed caves in the heart of the Gorges de l’Ardèche nature reserve. Unique in Europe for its cascade of gours, the cave is also the largest underground network in the Ardèche and the fourth largest in France, with 64.2 km of galleries (to date) top mapped. This immense underground labyrinth is still being explored.
Various themed tours and activities are on offer, including caving and walks for children. The cave is a veritable natural cellar, housing wines from the 7 wine cellars and estates in Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche. You can take a wine-tasting tour underground, or take part in the unique SpéléOenologie, a caving and wine-tasting experience.
The Romanesque chapel of Saint-Sulpice in Trignan
Surrounded by vines and groves, the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Sulpice is shrouded in mystery. The walls of this listed building, which was rebuilt in the 12th century, contain reused Carolingian stone. Away from the major tourist flows, the site is ideal for contemplation and rest.
The castle of Bernis
Behind its large gates, the 18th-century Château de Bernis in Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche attracts as many visitors as it does visitors. Privately owned by the family of the Marquis de Bernis, the château can only be visited on an exceptional basis through the Tourist Office. Attacked during the French Revolution, the château was rebuilt under the Empire. The Cardinal de Bernis, born in Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche in 1715 and nicknamed “the cardinal of pleasures”, was a close friend of Louis XV and a confidant of the Marquise de Pompadour.
The vineyards and winegrowers of Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche
Saint-Marcel d’Ardèche is a village surrounded by vineyards. Cardinal de Bernis was already talking about the reputation of the vineyards in his day! Today, the village’s winegrowers are still successfully cultivating grapes and producing excellent wines in the Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône villages Saint-Andéol and IGP Ardèche appellations. Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche is part of the “Vignobles et découverte” destination, known as “Vignoble Sud Ardèche“.
