Barjac, Renaissance village

Barjac, Renaissance village

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Situated between the Ardèche and Cèze gorges, Barjac was Louis XIII's last stop on the road to the Peace of Alès, and was in turn Protestant and Catholic. It is a town with a rich history and heritage.

Barjac is first and foremost symbolised by its castle, which dates back to the early 17th century and has now been restored. It houses the town hall, a cinema, a library, activity rooms and exhibitions, and is also a venue for shows. A tour takes in the Renaissance Tower, the Lower Gate, the Capuchin Chapel, the town houses and their towers, the market square and its plane trees, the Upper Gate and the Grand'Rue, the Saint-Laurent church, the esplanade and fountain, the market hall, etc.

The Renaissance Tower, located in the town's former main square, this slender, rather narrow corner tower was probably built in the 16th century and is a real architectural gem.

Also worth seeing is the Porche de Vergeyras, the former entrance porch to the 16th-century house of Vergeyras, whose inner courtyard is adorned with gargoyles, and the Capuchin chapel. There are monastic cells on the second floor. In the park, the disused chapel has a classical façade with a bell tower, pediment and niche occupied by a statue.

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Also worth seeing are the church of Saint-Laurent, built between 1672 and 1692 to replace the church of Saint-Laurent de Maillac, which had become too dilapidated, as well as the Hôtel Merle de Lagorce, of which only the main entrance door remains visible, and the Hôtel Dufour, a 16th-century tower giving access to the various floors of the hotel and located on rue de Salavas, which is one of the eight towers currently listed in the old town of Barjac.

Barjac is also rich in prehistoric remains. Fifteen dolmens have been identified in the surrounding area and, based on the simplicity of their architecture, can be dated to the Bronze Age, i.e. the 2nd millennium BC.

Barjac is also home to many artists, including the world-famous painter Anselm Kiefer. Every year in summer, art exhibitions are held in the halls of the Château de Barjac. The "Barjac m'en chante" Festival is a song festival held every year at the end of July.

Finally, the Barjac fairs have always played a major role in the life of the town. Their origins date back to the royal orders of François 1st and Louis XIV. At Easter, Barjac hosts its Antiques and Brocante Fair, its Lavender Fair on 14 July and its Organic Fair on the last Sunday in July.

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Around Barjac... Not far from Barjac, you can visit three of the most beautiful villages in France, Aiguèze, Montclus and La Roque sur Cèze with the Sautadet waterfalls. Still in the Cèze valley, there's also Goudargues, the little Venice of the Gard, and further on in the Ardèche gorges, Vallon-Pont d'Arc and its prehistoric wonders.

Official website of the Cèze-Cévennes Tourist Office :

www.tourisme-ceze-cevennes.com