Château d'Aubenas, Medieval castle in Aubenas, France.
The castle stands on a limestone promontory with a 26-meter-high square keep and two round towers overlooking the Ardèche valley.
Six noble families occupied the castle from the 12th century until the French Revolution, with each family contributing to its architectural evolution.
The castle includes Renaissance elements such as an Italian-style courtyard with arcades and a loggia influenced by Tuscan palace architecture.
Following a seven-year renovation project, the castle will reopen in July 2024 as a Contemporary Art Center with six annual exhibitions.
The castle features a preserved medieval cistern system and a spiral staircase within the Maubec tower dating from the 15th century.
Location: Aubenas
GPS coordinates: 44.62080,4.39058
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:43
The Ardèche combines natural formations with centuries of human settlement. This southeastern French département stretches from the volcanic heights of the Cévennes to deeply carved limestone gorges along the river of the same name. The Pont d'Arc, a 197-foot (60-meter) natural stone arch, marks the entrance to the Gorges de l'Ardèche, while the Grotte Chauvet preserves cave paintings created 36,000 years ago. The landscape alternates between forested plateaus like the Bois de Païolive, where weathered limestone takes unusual shapes, and river valleys that have supported communities for centuries. Several villages including Balazuc, Vogüé, and Labeaume cling to cliffsides above the water, their narrow lanes leading past castle ruins and Romanesque churches. The Cascade du Ray-Pic drops 197 feet (60 meters) over a basalt wall, while Mont Gerbier de Jonc holds the source of the Loire River. Beneath the surface, extensive cave systems include the Grotte de la Madeleine and the Aven d'Orgnac with its underground chambers. The Château de Crussol stands on a rocky outcrop above the Rhône valley, while the Château d'Aubenas dominates the town below. Between these natural and historical sites, the Train du Vivarais and the Vélorail des Gorges du Doux connect visitors to the region in practical ways.
Jastres-nord
2 km
Église Saint-Laurent d'Aubenas
232 m
Thermes De Vals-Les-Bains & Spa Séquoia Redwood
4.4 km
Chapelle Saint-Benoît d'Aubenas
285 m
Oppidum de Jastres-Sud
3.6 km
Château Clément
4.1 km
Maison Michel-Veyrenc
121 m
Maison Delichères
57 m
Église Saint-Julien de Saint-Julien-du-Serre
4.4 km
Église Saint-André d'Ailhon
4.6 km
Hôtel Goudard-Ruelle
234 m
Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens de Vesseaux
5.2 km
Église Saint-Loup de Mercuer
2.8 km
Hôtel Missolz de Ferrières
95 m
Grange du Cheylard
1.8 km
Église Saint Martin de Vals
4.9 km
Église Saint-Régis de Labégude
3.5 km
Église Saint-Didier de Saint-Didier-sous-Aubenas
2.6 km
Église Saint-Privat de Saint-Privat
1.8 km
Centre culturel Les Quinconces
4.4 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Pont-d'Aubenas
610 m
Chapelle des Voyageurs du Pont d'Ucel
872 m
Church of Saint-Étienne-de-Fontbellon
2.2 km
Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens d'Ucel
2.5 km
Sundial
4.7 km
Chapelle Saint-Pierre de Saint-Pierre
3.6 km
Chapelle Sainte-Anne de la Chapelette
3.2 km
Intermittent spring of Vals-les-Bains
4.3 kmReviews
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Very impressive castle from the Ardèche on its rocky promontory! It is worth a visit.
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