Introduction The Château de Rochegude is a 4 star hotel with 23 bedrooms and 2 apartments, its gastronomic restaurant can seat 70 people, and in a wedding or private reception setting it can even be increased to 120 people.
The Château's main building was rebuilt in the 16th and 17th century and surrounds the 12th century tower. The private 10 ha (24.7 acres) park has a heated outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court, the whole embellished by the presence of 10 deer and does.
The Château offers its clients today's comforts in a historical setting with the good taste and warmth given by the Souleiado cloths and the old furniture.
The setting of an old winepress is the location for our meeting room in an arched hall. It leads onto a garden ideal for the summer breaks.
Its 60 square meters allows it to welcome 15 to 45 people according to the seating style asked for.
This allows our firm to be competitive for cultural, work or leisure stays both individually or in group. |
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Location The château de Rochegude is situated in the heart of the Provençal Drôme, in the northern part of Provence well known for its good wines (Meridional Côtes du Rhône) and for its seasonal fruits, as well as for the black diamond, the truffle. The region has been able to maintain its rural aspect, avoiding intensive development and concrete buildings with no character.
The Château is on the top of a hill overlooking the Côtes du Rhône Valley with its vineyard. The access is quite easy even though it is set back from the major roads. Take the Bollène exit on the A7 turnpike and follow directions for Rochegude on the Carpentras road. We are 9 Km from the turnpike. |
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History The occupation of the rocky peak, overlooking the vast plain, goes back to the beginning of time. The Côtes du Rhône vineyard stretches at its feet and the outline of the mount Ventoux may be seen from the terraces when the mistral blows.
At first, the place was called 'ROCHE AIGUE', then during the Roman era 'ROCHA ACUTA', then language usage changed it to ROCHEGUDE.
The château de Rochegude is mentioned in the Roman archives three centuries after Christ. It was a stopping place on the Via Agrippa linking Orange to Vaison-la-Romaine.
In 1820, a torso of Bacchus was discovered in the Château's cellars cut out in the rocks. It now is in the St Germain en Laye museum. Indeed, this museum was able to acquire this work also coveted by the Louvre Museum. It is a white marble sculpture that was walled in a nook near the dungeon, in order to protect it from the bloody attacks of the Baron des Adrets in the 16th century. A pillar from a tombstone discovered on Rochegude territory is today in the Museum of Avignon. It is 1m16 high and 0m75 wide and the inscription mentions the affection of Cassius Severianus and Veltia Maternilla for their cherished daughter Infantus.
We know practically nothing of what happened to the Château and the houses grouped at its feet during the Gallo-Roman era.
The old charters of Albagnet and in 1235 that of Rochegude only go back to 1115. At that time, Guillaume de Mondragon and Hugues de Caderousse were co-lords of Rochegude with the Prior Bertrand de Monteux.
The numerous and successive divisions led to frequent changes in ownership and it is thus that in 1315, Bertrand des Baux IV, Prince of Orange, considered himself a Papal vassal for part of Rochegude.
The Popes who settled in Avignon from 1309 to 1378 chose the Château to render justice. This choice was due to its location, on the border of the Dauphiné, (France at that time) and the Venaissin County.
The Justice Hall still exists.
Today's' visitors may still admire wonderful parchments bearing seals and effigies of the Papal era.
The Château suffered terribly during the Religious Wars. The Calvinists took on the name of Huguenots and found in France a powerful army ready for all sorts of atrocities.
Thus the worst Huguenot chef, François de Beaumont, who called himself the 'Baron des Adrets', attacked the Château de Suze when passing by. He was unable to capture it and so turned against the Château of Rochegude, which also resisted for a time, then was burnt and devastated. All that remains today is the powerful tower of the 11th century whose machicolation was destroyed by the baron's artillery.
Thinking that the Château de Rochegude was going to surrender, the Baron des Adrets decided to send his cavalry to give it the fatal blow. But the peasants hidden behind the ramparts, who had brought their beehives with them, threw them from the top of the covered way. It created a general panic and gave a bit of respite to the villagers. The Baron des Adrets did not take Rochegude that day. This stunning event allowed the blazon to bear a square of bees as well as the already existing doves.
The Château's ruins remained that way until the end of the reign of Louis IV. The actual Château was then rebuilt on the remnants of the fortress, in a less aggressive style… a monumental staircase and banister decorate the Château. Later on, artists working for Marie-Antoinette in the Petit Trianon, made splendid works out of gypsum which still decorate the old reception rooms of the château.
It should also be mentioned that Viollet-le-Duc restored Rochegude putting in decorative machicolations and splendid earthenware so enormous it is hard to imagine what oven could have cooked them.
At this time the names of MARQUIS ROBERT D'ACQUERIA and of the ARNOUL family are linked to it.
After the death of the last Marquis de Rochegude in 1945, the Château fell into joint possession and was again threatened of falling into ruin. It was sold to Mr. Fernand GALLIBERT, who has undertaken its complete renovation since 1964.
The Château now belongs to the abbey of Bouchet, which runs it since 1989.
The old winepress was used to make a white wine of renown from XERES vines, served in Louis XIV's courts.
Thanks to precise documents, we know that a ruling given in Beaucaire by Louis d'Anjou, the king's brother gave Rochegude the right to mint coins (golden coins). In 1841, a treasure of 5 kg of coins was discovered and legend has it that many more treasures are hidden!!! |
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Client services and conveniences | Luxury Hotel, all our bedrooms have air-conditioning, color TV, mini-bar and a full bathroom. The private lounges and the dining room are also air-conditioned. Our staff will park your car and take care of your luggage, we can also inform you of the different possibilities for visiting our region as well as booking reservations for visits and excursions. |
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Our restaurant list is reviewed, according to the season's fresh products, for example here is our menu for the truffle season:
*** Potato Pie with Truffles Open Raviole of Artichokes with Truffles Chicken Broth with Chervil and Truffles Truffle Caul of Pigeon Wing Choice of Matured Cheeses Sweets and Delicacies
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Cultural and regional activities | Located in the Provençal Drôme, several ideas of visits are available, such as: the wine university in SUZE LA ROUSSE, NYONS with its olive products, GRIGNAN with its Château made famous by Madame de SEVIGNE, ORANGE with its antic theater classified as World Monument by UNESCO and where the July and August dance choruses are held each year, and of course the many sampling cellars where good buys may be made. |
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