Richerenches is one of the four communes of the Vaucluse, located in the enclave of the Popes, in the Drôme, more precisely between the Comtat Venaissin and the Drôme provençale. Richerenches has the peculiarity of being surrounded by four rivers which bring it a most pleasant coolness in summer. Richerenches has within its walls the key to the treasure of the Enclave of the Popes: that of the Templars.
A bit of History
In 1136, the Commandery of the Templars was erected, which was powerful and undertook many works including the construction of a Templar farm, a chapel and the draining of the marshes. The fortified house, the chevet of the parish church and the western gate of the enclosure are to this day the only witnesses of the Templar establishment which was at the origin of the village of Richerenches. This one is nowadays characterized by its 16th-century rampart, square in plan and equipped with corner towers, particularly well preserved. Located to the north of the church, the Templar House is a monumental and fortified construction, well preserved, which still develops over a length of 32 m for a width of 11 m and an elevation of 11 m. The building, classified as a Historic Monument since 1984 and long disused, was the subject of a restoration campaign in 2006-2008. The village was pillaged by brigands, destroyed by religious wars and then abandoned. The time of reconstruction came in 1502 thanks to a few families.
Stud farm, Truffles and flowers
The Commanderie was also the first stud farm in France and provided the horses for the crusades, incomparable for those who were destriers with the size and strength required to support the weight of the knight's arms and the harshness of the shocks. Sheep farms produced the wool for the weaving of the knights' white coats. The "Tuber Melanosporum" made Richerenches its stronghold. The culture, the harvest, the traditions and the customs around the black diamond are strongly celebrated today. The black diamond is honoured throughout the seasons at the Richerenches truffle market, the largest truffle market in Europe. It takes place every Saturday morning from mid November to mid March on the Cours du Mistral and the Avenue de la Rabasse. In Richerenches, it is imperative to visit the Truffle and Wine Museum. Finally, every first Sunday of May, the village celebrates and honours the Flower Festival.
To see around Richerenches :
Visan : A village with a rich and ancient history,
Valréas and Grillon: two very pretty villages to visit also located in the enclave of the Popes.
Grignan : for its famous castle
Suze la Rousse : visit its castle and the Wine University
Tourist Office
Place Hugues de Bourbouton,
84600 Richerenches
Tel: 04 90 28 05 34
https://www.richerenches.fr/
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