At the heart of the Côtes du Rhône vineyard, overlooking the village, Suze-la-Rousse castle in Provençale Drôme stands out thanks to its dualistic architecture. Erected in the 12th century, it gradually became a military fortress. Its location on a rocky promontory made it a strategic defensive point at the time. And surprisingly, the castle did not suffer much damage. Then from the 16th century onwards, the fortress became a large holiday residence. The military architecture made way for a less austere design inside. The grand staircase with two spirals, the monumental fireplace in the grand drawing room and the wall decorations are examples of this architectural renewal. The same goes for the Italian-style inner courtyard with arcades, one of the most beautiful in France! This remarkable reminder of the Renaissance is indisputably the building's flagship feature.
A museum exhibition tells the story of the fortress and its inhabitants, and that of wine-growing and the uses of wine through the centuries. The prestigious University of Wine is located inside the castle, in fact. This internationally famous institution offers courses and conferences on the subject of vines and wine.
Suze-la-Rousse Castle is located within a large woodland park, La Garenne. Holm oaks, stone pines and other tree species make up this former seigniorial hunting reserve. This vast green space has a few relics from the past, like a 16th-century jeu de paume court, a 17th-century chapel and an old dovecote.
