Perched on the heights of Montélimar and accessible in just a few minutes' walk from the town center, the castle testifies to the power of the Adhémar family, who gave their name to the town. It comprises a lord's residence, a Romanesque chapel, a square tower, and a fortified enclosure topped by a walkway. Over the centuries, the buildings have served many purposes: palace, fortress, citadel, and then prison. Now owned by the Drôme Department and a listed monument, it underwent successive restorations before opening to the public in 1983. A true jewel of southern Romanesque architecture, it boasts remarkable arched windows and a breathtaking 360° panoramic view from the walkway.
Julien LoicGéraud Adhémar, imperial prince and great vassal of the Pope, had a princely palace, the logis, built around 1175. This large rectangular building, built against the side of the old motte, was not fortified but richly decorated.
Julien LoicAt the end of the 12th century, Géraud and Lambert were co-lords of Montélimar. The Albigensian Crusade pitted them against each other. The two brothers became rivals, and the site was divided into two fortresses with the addition of a square tower and then an enclosure for the so-called old castle, while Lambert had a fortified castle built right next to it.
Tassin Christophe
In the 16th century, during the Wars of Religion, the town endured several sieges before falling into Protestant hands. From 1588 onwards, a citadel was built on the orders of the Duke of Lesdiguières, leader of the Protestants in the Dauphiné region.
From 1623 onwards, the royal troops of Louis XIII, then Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, were quartered in the citadel of Montélimar to control the Huguenots. Two barracks were built between the Narbonne tower and the redoubt.
The building served as the residence of the military governors of Montélimar and the nave of the chapel housed the arsenal.
Julien LoicIn 1791, the castle became a prison. The main building was divided into cells for those awaiting trial and those condemned, men and women, and more rarely children. Walls separated the different courtyards, and the keep served as the warden's residence.
The prison closed in 1926 when Montélimar lost its status as a sub-prefecture.
Julien LoicIn 1889, the "old" castle, then in 1938 the Narbonne tower and the urban curtain wall, were classified as historical monuments.
Following the acquisition of the site by the Drôme Department, several restoration campaigns were undertaken: the west façade and the interior spaces of the main building, the courtyard, and finally the chapel. Opened to the public in 1983, the château became a contemporary art center from 2000 to 2016. Since its closure, a unique approach to showcasing and promoting the heritage has been developed and offered to the public.
