The Château de Rochemaure perched on a basaltic dyke

Situated atop a dyke overlooking the Rhône and the village, the remains of the Château de Rochemaure are perched above the town. The central donjon was constructed between 1120 and 1140, built of black basalt with light limestone corner blocks. It features a square tower with a pentagonal tower built at the end of the 12th century, designed so that entry was gained through a door on the first floor rather than the ground floor. The residential quarters and the ramparts date from the 13th century.

The castle has seen many owners, including the Adhémar de Monteil, the Levis-Ventadour, and the Rohan-Soubise, before being ceded to the commune in 1974. In 1598, the governor Jacques d'Hilaire preferred to build a new castle, the château de Joviac, and the old site was abandoned in 1630. However, a small garrison was maintained there from 1621, with governors including Antoine de Bannes, Blaise de Caseneuve, Jean Bouvier, and Sibleyras de Montrond. In 1730, the owner, prince Hercule de Rohan, sold the roof to cover a barn.

The site formed a fortified castrum with the old town, featuring crenellated walls and visible towers. The château, along with its two enclosure walls and the tour du Guast, has been classified as a historical monument since 1924. The tour du Guast, located halfway down the wall descending toward the village, is built on a basaltic dyke and may date back to the 10th century, providing a wide view of the Rhône.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons