Desaignes

Visit Desaignes, Rhone-Alpes

Desaignes is a village located towards the north of the Ardeche department, in the Doux river valley between Saint-Agreve and Lamastre (west of Valence). The village falls within the Regional Natural Park of the Monts d'Ardeche.

Surrounded by gentle hills covered in vineyards and woodlands the village is officially listed as one of the 'Ardeche Villages of Character', a group of about 17 villages in the ardeche department of particular historical interest to visitors.

Exploring Desaignes

Desaignes is interesting to explore and has several notable monuments and highlights to discover, although the real pleasure of a visit comes from simply strolling along the historical streets admiring the houses and architectural details around the doors and windows.

One of the first things you will notice when you visit is the remains of the original town ramparts - three of the original entrances to the town still pass through these defensive walls.

Within the medieval old town itself the highlights include the 14th century Chateau de Desaignes, with some grand fireplaces, the original kitchen, a small chapel and an attractive stone spiral staircase to see. The castle is now also home to a museum commemorating Ardeche history and way of life, and also contains a large space in the vaults where you can see and sample some of the extensive range of local products - with wine, cheese, dried sausages, goat's cheese (a particular tasty local speciality) this is a gourmet's delight.

See also the protestant Temple of Diana and the roman style church - note in particular how the church has incorporated a tower from an earlier fort as its belltower.

Area around Desaignes

After exploring the village of Desaignes devote some time to exploring the surrounding countryside, perhaps by following the short trail called the 'sentier botanique' which introduces the diversity of nature to be found nearby - get the leaflet from the Desaignes Tourist Information on the Place de la Mairie.

See Rhone-Alpes and Ardeche (the region and department for Desaignes) for more travel ideas...

Suggested places to visit near Desaignes, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez 34km; Meyras 40km; Mirmande 41km; Romans-sur-Isere 42km; Thueyts 42km; Aubenas 43km; Jaujac 45km; Ailhon 46km; Malleval 46km; Pelussin 49km; Arlempdes 49km;

Desaignes tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Parc Jouvet - remarkable garden (30km) : Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire (Valence) - religious monument (30km) : Cascade du Ray-Pic - site of natural beauty (32km) : Jardin japonais - remarkable garden (32km) : Monts d'Ardeche - regional natural parc (36km) : Prieuré de Saint Julien (Saint-Julien-Chapteuil) - religious monument (37km) : Vals-les-Bains - recommended detour (38km) : Montelier - ville fleurie 4* (41km) :

See more places and a map at places near Desaignes