Lachau offers several distinct reasons to stay: hiking trails to the Tour du Riable, the Romanesque Notre-Dame de Calma and a producers’ market held year-round. In severe winters, the natural spectacle at the Marlaric waterfall may be another attraction. When planning accommodation in Lachau, it is therefore worth starting with your travel dates: the market, cultural events and hiking each have different schedules. This makes it possible to plan your stay around a specific activity, rather than treating everything as a fixed itinerary.
Tour du Riable: history and hiking
The Tour du Riable is the keep of a fortified complex, or castrum, built towards the end of the 12th century. At an altitude of 1,190 metres, the tower offers a direct view of the villages in the upper MĂ©ouge Valley. History and landscape meet here at a clearly defined destination: the site is both part of the medieval complex and a viewpoint over the valley.
The final approach to the Tour du Riable is on foot along a narrow path. A hiking trail leads there from the village, passing Notre-Dame de Calma. Three hiking routes start in Lachau in total, so you can plan hikes from the same starting point. One is the “LACHAU – Tour du Riable” circular route: it is 11.4 kilometres long, takes 3 hours and 45 minutes, and is of moderate difficulty. These details apply to the named loop. Allow enough time and check the route and local access conditions before setting out; trail conditions can change.
Notre-Dame de Calma and Lachau’s history
Notre-Dame de Calma is a Romanesque church and was listed as a historic monument in 1875. It is the surviving remnant of a medieval monastery or an important rural priory, built in the early 13th century. The church is currently used for cultural events, including exhibitions and concerts; the traditional Mass on 15 August is also held there. If you plan to attend a particular event or the Mass, check the dates before travelling.
Lachau’s earlier history also includes a Gallo-Roman sanctuary. Its finds are kept at the museum in Gap. This means that different historical periods come together in Lachau: its Gallo-Roman past, Notre-Dame de Calma’s medieval religious history and the fortified complex at the Tour du Riable. You can treat these historical themes as separate areas of interest when planning, without assuming a fixed visiting itinerary.
Market, winter scenery and trip planning
Lachau’s producers’ market takes place year-round every Saturday morning from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. It is mainly a market for local producers. If you want to visit the market, it is best to plan your travel dates around Saturday morning and check the opening hours again before you arrive. This lets you fit a visit to the market around the rest of your day, rather than treating it as equivalent to a longer hike.
A seasonal highlight appears in severe winters at the Marlaric waterfall: it offers an impressive display of ice, and the stream carries particularly icy water. This natural spectacle depends specifically on sufficiently severe winter conditions. It is therefore a seasonal highlight, not a year-round activity.
Route 39 connects Lachau with Buis-les-Baronnies, Nyons and Vaison-la-Romaine. If you are relying on this connection for your journey or onward travel, check service and timetables with the regional transport authority before travelling. You can then choose your travel dates to suit your priorities: Saturday morning for the market, confirmed dates for cultural events, or enough time for the hike to the Tour du Riable.
Château de Lachau is currently privately owned and cannot be visited. Check its access status again before making plans for a future visit.
Discover more destinations: Andancette, Propiac, La Répara-Auriples, Mévouillon, Pont-De-Barret, Chantemerle-Lès-Grignan, Chauvac-Laux-Montaux, La Motte-de-Galaure.
For the regional travel overview: DrĂ´me.
