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INTRODUCTION
Montélimar (Latin name: Acumum and Montelaimar in occitan) is a commune of southern France in the Drôme département. It is the second largest town in the département after Valence. The site where the city of Montélimar stands today has been inhabited since the Celtic era. It was reconstructed during the Roman reign, including a basilica, aqueducts, thermae and a forum. The Adhémar family reigned over the city in the Middle Ages and built a castle (Château des Adhémar) which dominates the city silhouette even today.
It was the birthplace of the French navigator Louis de Freycinet and the hometown of Émile Loubet, President of France from 1899 till 1906, who worked also as the mayor of Montélimar. Montélimar is widely regarded as the world capital of nougat. The local nougat is one of the 13 desserts of Provence and highly appreciated throughout the country. Travellers used to buy nougat de Montélimar on their way to the south of France (or when returning) as the city is next to the Rhône river and to the primary route N7. Since the construction of the A7 autoroute, many nougat factories have been obliged to close as the tourists no longer stop in Montélimar but bypass it instead. (…)
HISTORY
Its origins are found in the 11th century when the first castle was built by the Count of Toulouse, the Duke of Narbonne. Little of this remains.
In the second half of the 12th century it became the property of the Adhémar de Monteil family, lords of Rochemaure, later lords of Grignan, then at the height of their power. The palace they built substantially exists today.
In the 14th century, it was taken by the papacy, joining the Pope’s castles until 1447, when Montélimar was returned to the kingdom of France. The site of many armed conflicts, especially during the Wars of Religion, the castle suffered much damage and was transformed into a citadel, then back to a pleasant residence with the return of more peaceful times. In the 15th century it was used as a prison.
In the middle of the 16th century, Louis Adhémar rebuilt in the Renaissance style. During the French Revolution, the château was partially destroyed.
The castle was a prison again between 1791 and 1926, a use which has meant that it remained practically intact.
ARCHITECTURE
The château is considered to be one of the last examples of Romanesque castle architecture. Having a fortified curtain wall, round walk, keep, a house and chapel, combining social, family, political and religious life in one. Only the Narbonne tower is outside the first wall, some metres to the north. Of the original 12th century residential buildings, only the palace remains. There are three large rectangular rooms reached through a monumental doorway. The spectacular decoration of the lodgings is concentrated on the first floor gallery, with no fewer than nine semicircular arches with sculptured columns. This series of windows extends the full length of the building.
The keep has three floors. The austere architecture, with thick walls, reminds visitors of the castle’s medieval origins.
The castle has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1889. The château was restored thanks to Madame Fontaine, who owned it from 1912. The site is still undergoing arcaeological examination. It is open to the public. Art exhibitions and other cultural events take place.
LODGING
See the listing of the Hotels in Montelimar
PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS
Adhemar’ Castle in Montelimar
24 Château
26200 Montelimar
| Adhemar’ Castle in Montelimar |