Château d'Entrechaux, Medieval castle in Entrechaux, France.

Château d'Entrechaux is a ruined castle on a rocky peak above the village, with two parts: the Petit Château, begun around 900 by the Bishops of Vaison, and the Grand Château below it, built by the village lord. The remains show a square keep over 20 metres high, a chapel dedicated to St Laurent, ramparts and a gatehouse with a bretèche. Pale grey and tan limestone walls, round-headed arches at the base and a rectangular tower with a single arched opening stand among scrub and small trees.

Bishops of Vaison established the smaller fortress around 900 with a fortified chapel and water storage systems. The larger fortress was built later as a response to regional conflicts and military needs of the time.

Two chapels served the site: Saint-Quenin in the Petit Château and Saint-Laurent in the Grand Château. The joint lordship of bishops and village lords lasted about 450 years from around 1230. A gatehouse with a bretèche, a projecting defensive gallery, served both castles.

You can reach the site by following Rue de la Croix du Coq in the village of Entrechaux, with best access during summer months. The rocky terrain and steep slopes require sturdy footwear and a reasonable level of fitness to explore the grounds comfortably.

This fortress was part of a defense system that worked together with the castles of Crestet and Beaumont-du-Ventoux to monitor the region. This network allowed communication through sight lines across the landscape.