Anchored in Haut-Vivarais, Quintenas reflects the beautiful diversity of this territory.
In the northern part of the Ardèche department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, about seven kilometers south of Annonay, the town covers 1,372 hectares in this natural region whose crystalline plateaus descend to the east, on a steep slope, on the Rhône corridor.
The commune, where pastures predominate, is thus a vast plateau, at an average altitude of 350 meters, with a general slope towards the east. The relief is very slightly hilly and only takes on real importance around the valleys dug by the rivers, Goueille stream, Embrun stream and especially the Cance valley which flows at the bottom of a gorge. steep about 150 meters below the plateau.
The maximum altitude, 427 meters, is reached west of the village where the water tower is located and the lowest point, at 194 meters, is at the confluence of the Cance and the Goueille.
The village contains major buildings and a multitude of small heritage treasures to discover during walks. Two historical monuments sign the identity of the town: the fortified Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens and the suspension bridge over the Cance. Other historical traces are noticeable by its fortified houses, its dry stone huts, its menhirs.
After a long decline, as in most rural communes, with the exception of a slight jump from 1926 to 1931, the population has been increasing since 1946. This development mainly materialized from 1968, following the industrial boom which led to the creation of jobs in the Annonay basin.
Families will find all the essential services and a pleasant environment, surrounded by greenery and irrigated by beautiful hiking trails. Quintenas, with nearly 1600 inhabitants, offers an ideal living environment for personal development and easy access to work, a pleasant stopover for lovers of green tourism between the Rhône Valley and the south of the Massif Central.
A discovery of Quintenas can begin with that of its heritage, and in particular the jewel that is the church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens, whose existence is attested from the 9th century. The current building dates partly from the 12th century and partly from the 14th century. The bottom of the bell tower and the Romanesque choir are the oldest part of the building. Outside, the machicolation arcades, the bretèche, the corner turret, the windows of the chapels in narrow loopholes adorn the facades. Inside, the tombs of Charles du Peloux, Sieur des Colaux, Lord of Brézenaud and his wife, Louise d'Hostun de Claveyson are visible as well as their coat of arms. Although damaged during the Wars of Religion, the church, restored in the 19th century, has retained its massive appearance and numerous architectural testimonies.
To the north-east of the town, on the edge of the neighboring locality of Vernosc, the Moulin-sur-Cance bridge, also known as the "Passerelle Seguin", is worth the detour. This suspension bridge, which once adjoined an industrial site, was erected in 1823 using a technique developed by engineer Marc Seguin, originally from Annonay. Protected as historical monuments since 1981, the work was restored identically in 2013, the last testimony to a now bygone technique. This bridge alone deserves the excursion into the heart of nature.
In the village, the "Maison des Fromages" owes its name to the particular pillars of its awning resembling a pile of local cheeses: the picodon. A fortified house at the entrance to the village, Place du Pontet, was built at the same time as the church tower, in the 14th century. It still retains its spiral staircase in its pentagonal tower, as well as the sculpted coats of arms of its first owners, the Faure du Cros.
In the surroundings stand the Hotoire and Manoha, imposing 15th and 16th century fortified houses, the passage of a mule track, two menhirs near the bridge over the Goueille river, as well as the fountain and its Joan of Arc and a wash house from 1902 on the Place du Pontet invite you to travel.
It will also be a pleasure to stroll through the old centre, dotted with houses with noble facades, and picturesque old streets such as the rue de la Voûte and the pretty rue des Amoureux which have covered passages.
Many trails criss-cross the countryside and allow you to reach the eight hamlets spread out in a ring around the village, taking advantage of the rural setting, meadows and small oak groves. The plateau and the green surroundings of the village, the banks or gorges of streams and rivers, make up attractive landscapes for hiking enthusiasts, at the foot of the Vivarais massif. Several marked trails are available. Maps and information from the Ardèche Grand Air Tourist Office on +33 4 75 33 24 51 or on the Quintenas Town Hall website.
Not far from Quintenas are beautiful sites such as:
The Basilica of Lalouvesc.
The Romanesque church of the 12th century Veyrines in Saint-Symphorien-de-Mahun.
The Shirat Blanc in Saint-Symphorien-de-Mahun.
The castle of Ay and Shrine of Our Lady of Ay (Black Madonna) in Saint-Romain-d'Ay.
The gorges of the Ay starting Ardoix.
The ruins of the castle Oriol.
Lake Saint-Meinettes Jeure-d'Ay, fishing is allowed.
The church of Saint-Pierre-sur-Doux and beautiful coffered ceiling.
The miniature village Pailharès.