The medieval center of Sauzet, known as the “old village,” was built on an elevated, fortified limestone hilltop on the western edge of the Valdaine plain. Two concentric ring walls define its layout. Other notable features include the former Romanesque castle chapel of Saint-Lambert and Villa Sestier, a particularly rare Art Nouveau building in the region. Its historical themes thus range from the layout of a fortified settlement and ecclesiastical history to a later architectural chapter and a digital tour.

The old village’s double fortifications

The upper enclosure, also known as the inner or castle enclosure, survives along almost its entire 300-meter circumference and has two square defensive towers. The lower enclosure, also known as the outer or town enclosure, survives along 80 percent of its 500-meter length. It includes three of the four original gate towers and two horseshoe-shaped towers. In direct comparison, the outer ring is longer, while the inner one is almost entirely preserved. The names help you understand the layout as two concentric levels: the inner, castle enclosure and the outer, town enclosure. The tower shapes also distinguish the two rings: square defensive towers above, and gate towers and horseshoe-shaped towers along the lower enclosure.

The church and a playful village tour

The Church of Saint-Lambert is a former Romanesque castle chapel in the fortified village. “Romanesque” describes its architectural style, while “former castle chapel” refers to its earlier function. Since the 12th century, it has been served by Benedictine monks from Saint-Marcel-lès-Sauzet. The building thus brings together architecture and ecclesiastical history.

The digital Baludik tour, developed by the municipality in collaboration with Montélimar Agglomération Tourisme, offers a different way to explore the area. The free app presents Sauzet’s history as a playful treasure hunt and highlights Marius Sestier as one of the municipality’s best-known residents. Unlike a visit focused on individual buildings, this experience centers on telling the story of the village. Those interested in Sauzet can thus distinguish between its architectural history and a playful way to explore the place.

Villa Sestier and its park

Villa Sestier, sometimes also called Château Sestier, is a particularly rare Art Nouveau building in the region. In June 2012, it was added to the supplementary register of historic monuments. Its gardens were expanded and redesigned as a seven-hectare park, with the project entrusted to Gabriel Luizet, a well-known landscape gardener. Both the house’s architecture and the design of its grounds are therefore among the topics associated with the villa.

Private and group tours are available on request. If you would like to plan a tour, request one and confirm the date in advance. The villa complements the medieval fortifications and ecclesiastical history with Art Nouveau architecture and park design; tours are available expressly by request.

Discover more destinations: Val-Maravel, Saint-Vallier, Le Poët-en-Percip, Tersanne, Clansayes, Léoncel, Montchenu, Bouchet

For the main travel overview: Drôme.