Salles-Sous-Bois combines hiking trails with well-dated traces of its history. For your travel planning, there is a marked route with a specified distance and duration, paths through varied landscapes, and historic buildings and remnants of fortifications. This lets you decide whether to explore the area mainly on foot or set aside time for its architectural and local history.

Hiking along a marked route and landscape trails

The “Taulignan par la route des lièvres” hike starts at the parking lot next to the town hall. It is marked in yellow, is 16 kilometers long, and takes about five hours. This does not include a visit to Taulignan. If you plan to do both, allow extra time for the visit. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.

The “La Berre” hike follows a different route: it crosses a ford through the Berre and then continues along an unpaved path beside truffle groves and lavender fields. Trail conditions can also change on this route. Do not apply the duration and distance given for the Taulignan hike to “La Berre”; a different route and different landscape features are described here.

Numerous woodland paths also make it possible to discover an old Celtic track. It later became the medieval road from Taulignan to La Bégude-de-Mazenc. The history of the routes therefore extends beyond any single hike: an earlier thoroughfare has been preserved here as part of the landscape.

Historic center and surviving traces

The historic center includes numerous houses dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, vaulted ceilings, and Renaissance windows on some facades. The townscape also features a washhouse and a restored priory. The facade of the 16th-century house at 22 Grande rue has retained its original integrity. These examples represent different periods of construction and make the historic center interesting for visitors who pay attention to details on individual buildings.

The public washhouse on Grande rue was completed on September 22, 1893. The washhouse, the fountain, and the entire premises were fully restored in 1999. The washhouse is no longer in use. This places its historic function and restoration in context, without mistaking it for a washhouse that is still in use.

Only traces and isolated remnants of the fortifications remain. The partially preserved remains of the former south gate include two horizontal loopholes, which served as an additional defensive feature. The approach to the former south gate follows a zigzag route and can be reached from Rue du Four and Montée Saint-Roch. This surviving detail gives a more concrete impression of the former structure than the few remaining traces of the fortifications alone.

Church, tradition, and historical dates

The Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Chapel is documented from the late 14th century and later became the parish church of Salles-Sous-Bois. A tourism listing updated in December 2020 states that the church is open daily year-round. For specific events or religious ceremonies, contact the town administration for information.

Once a year, in August, a procession is held in honor of Saint Roch. His statue is carried through the village to the singing of hymns. If you want to plan an August trip around this tradition, check the exact date in advance. Another historical date to note is that a new temple was built in 1884, about 150 years after the first temple was demolished.

Discover more destinations: Cliousclat, La Touche, Chabrillan, Montbrun Les Bains, Les Granges-Gontardes, Aulan, Allex, Savasse.

For the broader travel overview: Drôme.