The small village of Aulan lies at an altitude of 740 m between the Montagnes de Buc (1,442 m) and the Ubac (1,036 m), on the edge of the Toulourenc gorges. The Château d’Aulan stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Toulourenc valley. The château and Église Saint-Jacques offer tangible points of connection to local history; the ridges, valley and gorges shape the surrounding landscape.

This landscape includes the Natura 2000 site “L’Ouvèze et le Toulourenc”, designated FR 9301577, which includes Aulan. In 2006, the site was added to the Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance; in 2010, it was converted into a Special Area of Conservation.

Visiting the château and its heritage history

The Château d’Aulan was built in the 12th century on the site of a Roman oppidum. Since 9 May 1950, parts of its façades and roofs have been protected under the French heritage designation Monument historique. The château thus brings together an ancient settlement site, a medieval building and a heritage protection status with a precise date.

Guided tours of the private rooms are available; a tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. Allow this time as a separate item in your itinerary. The route includes numerous narrow staircases and is therefore not accessible to people with reduced mobility. Confirm these accessibility details before your trip.

Église Saint-Jacques and local history

Église Saint-Jacques lies below the Château d’Aulan and served both the château and the village. It was destroyed in 1599 and restored during the 17th century. Its architectural features include a semicircular Romanesque apse and an arcaded bell tower. Its former role serving the château and village, together with these two clearly distinct architectural forms, gives the church a character of its own alongside the Château.

The Aulan heritage trail includes the Ancienne école as one stop and another stop dedicated to Arthur de Suarez, Marquis d’Aulan (1833–1915). During his terms as mayor, a reforestation campaign using Austrian black pines was carried out in Aulan. The stop dedicated to this historical figure thus connects a notable person with a concrete story about the village and its landscape.

Trails through the landscape

The La Bohémienne route features two different crossings along the way: it crosses the bridge over the Toulourenc and follows a path that crosses the Quinsant stream. The bridge and stream crossing are distinctive landscape features of the route; the château and church, by contrast, offer insights into the built history of the village.

Past provisions and practical information

Breadmaking is also part of the history of how the village was supplied: residents once had their grain milled at the mill on the Toulourenc, then baked bread in the communal oven located on a hillside. This sequence of milling and baking adds a glimpse into everyday village life in the past to the history of the buildings.

Visitor facilities listed include parking near the Château d’Aulan, a picnic area and toilets. As facilities can change, check the information before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Les Pilles, Condorcet, Eygaliers, Montréal-Les-Sources, Bourg-Lès-Valence, Chaudebonne, La Laupie, Bathernay

For the broader travel overview: Drôme.