Explore Colonzelle through two main themes: religious buildings with a history stretching from the 10th to the 19th century, and paths that take in the Lez, woodland and the hamlet of Margerie. This puts culture and outdoor activity side by side as different interests to consider when planning your stay. If you are primarily interested in architectural history, the churches and chapels represent different periods; for time outdoors, consider the specific destinations along the paths. You can decide which aspect will shape your stay by considering the visiting conditions and route endpoints.
Churches, Chapels and Layers of History
Colonzelle’s monastic origins are linked to a rural priory of Saint-Pierre, established there in the 10th century. The Church of Saint Pierre was built in 1809; its tall façade features a neoclassical portal. The large nave, built of rough stone, has almost no windows. The greatly elevated Romanesque apse is the only surviving part of the original church. Architecturally, the 1809 church building and a Romanesque section of the original church stand side by side.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Lumières marks a different period. It was built in the 17th century at the request of a family from Montségur; an ex-voto dating from 1707 can be seen there. The Neo-Romanesque bell tower and portal date from the late 19th century. The construction, votive offering and tower therefore belong to different historical moments in the same chapel. The Chapelle Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens is a separate site: it was designated a historic monument by decree of the French Minister of Culture on 9 November 2009.
Check Access Conditions in Advance
The two chapels have different access conditions. The Chapelle Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens is accessible year-round on request; you can get the key from Colonzelle Town Hall. Arrange to collect the key there before your visit. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Lumières, by contrast, is open only for certain events or ceremonies. Contact the town hall about this chapel.
Hike along the Lez and Compare Destinations
The Lez is also an important feature of the landscape. Within the municipality of Colonzelle, it is listed as a Type I ZNIEFF in a regional natural heritage inventory. A hiking trail runs from the banks of the Lez through woodland to the hamlet of Margerie. This gives you a clear sequence of landmarks for navigating on foot: riverbank, woodland and a named destination.
The Voie Romaine offers another route. It runs along the banks of the Lez and the former Roman road. The route leads to Colonzelle and then continues via the Chapelle Saint-Barthélémy to Chamaret. Compared with the hiking trail to Margerie, the key difference is that this route continues to Chamaret: Margerie is the destination on one trail, while the Voie Romaine continues via a chapel to Chamaret. You can choose between them depending on whether you are looking for a hike to the hamlet or a route that continues to Chamaret.
Discover more destinations: Chantemerle-Lès-Grignan, Propiac, Saint-Martin-D'août, Saint-Vallier, Die, Villeperdrix, Ponet-Et-Saint-Auban, Cobonne.
For the wider travel overview: Drôme.
