Date: 25th July 2023
Travelled: 40 kms from La Roque-sur-Cèze to Saint-Martin d’Ardéche
Visited: La Roque-sur-Cèze
Stayed: Saint-Martin d’Ardéche Aire CC, €16, N44.30350, E04.56620
Budget: 64 days @ €86 per day
Once we got across the bridge with 2 inch either side to spare (pictured above) we settled in to the aire at La Roque-sur-Cèze. Deciding it was too hot to walk up the the old town today, we spent an hour chatting to our new English neighbours Shaun and Sally and their children Tom and Ralph. Ralph and Pam got on like a house on fire as they are both into transformers.
It was a hot and stormy evening in La Roque-sur-Cèze. We where parked deep in the shade and the breeze kept it relatively comfortable until bedtime when we resorted to the AC. Some lightning, thunder and a shower of rain about 3am signalled the AC is no longer needed.
After our coffee and fruit we walk back over the Pont Charles-Martel, the old stone bridge crossing the River Cèze below La Roque-sur-Cèze and start the walk through the vineyards then up the hill.
From our guide book the Most Beautiful Villages of France you’ll find La Roque-sur-Cèze on page 126. The village stands on a rocky slope overlooking the river and valley below. La Roque-sur-Cèze held a strategic position overlooking the Roman Road to Alba.
Our guide book tells us it’s a steep walk through the narrow winding laneway cobbled with river stones and it was right.
Our first find is the Église of the Château. The blurb tells us it has been rebuilt many times over the past 800 years including being partially destroyed in 1944 in a bombardment.
Like the gardens of Lussan we visited yesterday the dry climate is more evident here in La Roque-sur-Cèze. Our favourite house from our wandering is pictured below.
Below that a picture of the surrounding countryside from the viewing point just below the ruins of the castle. Vineyards and more vineyards.
Pictured above the Romanesque chapel and castle ruins La Roque-sur-Ceze. It’s all marked private property and that’s the best picture I could manage.
We make our way back to the Hymer and make ready for the road. Then we continue on to Saint-Martin d’Ardéche but that’s a story for another day.
Michael + Pam
