Châteauneuf-du-Pape

A delightful medieval village with 2,156 inhabitants on the left bank of the River Rhone, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the unique starting point for wine lovers wishing to explore the most prestigious wines of the Rhone Valley.
Visiting the village on foot will help you appreciate its rich heritage, with the high point being the famous Château des Papes, the former summer residence of the sovereign pontiffs in Avignon. Come and explore our town, with its little streets, its wine cellars and estates where you can taste the divine nectar - with pleasure guaranteed!

Find out about the history of the village through its various monuments:

** The Château des Papes, dating from the 14th century, listed as a Historic Monument since 1892

** Notre Dame de l’Assomption, 12th century church

** Saint Théodorit Chapel, built in the 10th or early 11th century, listed as a Historic Monument in 1984 for the frescoes decorating the choir

** Bienheureux Pierre de Luxembourg Chapel

** The oratories - St Marc oratory, St Joseph oratory, oratory of the Crucifix

** Hers Tower (private property, not open for visits)

** Islon St Luc, a protected natural site, the starting point for hiking trails

Discover all the secrets of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation with an audio-guided visit to the Wine Museum (admission free).

Did you know?
The village is lucky enough to have a chocolate factory, the Chocolaterie Bernard Castelain, a manufacturer of traditional chocolates, about 2 km from the town centre. In summer you can enjoy some delicious ice creams!

Lastly, the Blachère Distillery, next to the chocolate factory, is one of the oldest distilleries in Provence. Here Vintage Marcs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are made, liqueurs and syrups, including the famous Pac Lemon drink.

Once a year, the village goes back in time to the Middle Ages for the not-to-be-missed Fête de la Véraison!

Every year, on the first weekend in August, for the past 30 years, the Fête de la Véraison has transformed the old town into a real medieval village, with performances, historic reconstitutions, parades and scenes from everyday life transporting visitors back to yesteryear.
Noble knights and gentle damsels, minstrels and jugglers, merchants and tavern keepers take over the village streets for three days of festivities and entertainment. In the tradition of traditional fairs, the big market has more than a hundred stands devoted to the medieval period.

Weekly market on Friday morning.