The village Saint-Jean-le-Centenier appears around the church that belongs to the priory of Vesseaux. The Church of St. John is mentioned in ancient texts from 1137, but the current building has been many changes.
Strengthened at the end of the Middle Ages during the Hundred Years War, elements of walls (corner towers) still exist, as the towers that strengthen the front of the church and one of which sits the tower built in the 19th century. There are still meager remains of the castle (XIII).
The dark side of these constructions basalts had earned him the name of St. John the Black.
The railroad brought a new impetus to St Jean, through the large basalt quarries, now revived thanks to tourist traffic held up Vogue.
The track layout of Antoninus, between Nimes Lyon, passed by the Common Saint-Jean-le-Centenier after passing Alba-la-Romaine.