Quintenas combines a Romanesque church and a historic town centre with trails through gently rolling countryside. This offers different ways to plan your visit: explore the town’s architectural history, follow a marked circular route with a specified distance, or take a trail through the agricultural landscape on the outskirts. The town’s elevation is also part of its setting: the plateau slopes down towards the Cance Valley.
Church and Historic Town Centre
Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens is a fortified Romanesque church. Its apse dates from the 12th century; the nave, façade and bell tower were built in the 14th century as part of the fortifications. The church was partially destroyed in the 16th century. Abbé Bobichon had it restored to its present form through work carried out between 1827 and 1861. It has been classified as a Historic Monument of France since a decree dated 21 March 1910.
The church can be visited free of charge, independently and without a guide, throughout the year. Check the latest opening information before your visit. In the historic centre, narrow lanes, vaulted passages and small squares add to the walking route; former washhouses are also part of the townscape. The fortified Ravier house stands at the southern entrance to Quintenas. The fortified farm complex of L’Hotoire has been preserved in the area around the historic church centre.
Guided visits can be arranged on request and may include the church, the old village, fountains, crosses and dry-stone huts. Every September, the European Heritage Days showcase local heritage sites in Quintenas. For a visit focused on history, you can choose between exploring the church independently and taking one of these guided tours.
Plateau, Gorge and Hiking Trails
The gently rolling plateau is characterised by pastureland. About 150 metres below, the Cance Valley lies in a steep gorge. Quintenas’s hiking trails are named, marked with small wooden signs and regularly maintained by volunteers. They can be used on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback.
The Circuit du Pont des Amis circular trail is five kilometres long, with 50 metres of ascent. One section was levelled in 2020 to make it suitable for pushchairs and family walks. This information applies to that section. The Pont des Amis itself was built and installed in August 2019 by a volunteer group that restores forgotten trails.
There are around ten dry-stone huts in the Quintenas area. Part of the region’s rural agricultural architecture, they were once used in the fields, particularly in vineyards, as shelters and for storing tools. The Cabane des Fans can be visited along a route; as it is on private land, the owner’s permission is required.
Other trails offer different highlights: the Circuit des Presles provides views of the mountain ranges around the Quintenas plain. The “Les maisons fortes de Quintenas à Ardoix” hiking route passes through the agricultural landscape between the two towns; check the route details before setting out. Another trail from Quintenas leads to the Pont du Moulin-sur-Cance, a restored suspension bridge surrounded by nature and considered one of the earliest suspension bridges. Marc Seguin had it built in the mid-19th century.
Plan Your Journey
From Annonay, Quintenas is an estimated ten-minute drive via the RD 578. Saint-Vallier railway station in the Drôme department is about a 20-minute drive from Quintenas. Both are approximate journey times: check local driving conditions, and if travelling via Saint-Vallier, allow for onward travel as well. This helps you combine Quintenas’s trails and sights with realistic travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Le Cheylard, Payzac, Lagorce, Ardoix, Saint-André-Lachamp, Vinezac, Saint-Cirgues-En-Montagne, Les Ollières-Sur-Eyrieux.
For the broader travel guide: Ardèche.
