Traveling the A7 highway through the Rhône Valley, or perhaps glancing
out the window of the TGV as it glides on whispered wings between
Avignon and Lyon you notice a massive rocky crag of a cliff just north
of Orange with the remains of an ancient medieval fortress castle which
stood guard over the river valley for centuries.
Although the Fortress Castle of Mornas is partly in ruins, it still maintains the feeling of the old times of France’s feudal past. Once a massive fortress with heavy thick stone walls, a chateau with living quarters and chapels, the Mornas Fortress was one of the largest in the French kingdom. This great defensive position was a fortification and lookout since celtic times (an oppidum).
The actual castle dates from the XIth Century. It was then the property of the bishops of Arles. In the XIIth Century it belonged to the Earl of Toulouse. Eventually Raymond VI gave away the castle to the Pope who had its capital in Avignon during a part of the Middle Ages. In the XIIIth Century, it was handed over to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem who could not afford to maintain it for long.
In 1562, during the religious wars, the castle was captured by Calvinists and all the inhabitants massacred with the soldiers thrown over the cliff. When it was later retaken by the Catholics 6 years later, they returned the favor...
After the XVIth Century, the castle lost its vital importance as the country was unified and at peace.
Although the Fortress Castle of Mornas is partly in ruins, it still maintains the feeling of the old times of France’s feudal past. Once a massive fortress with heavy thick stone walls, a chateau with living quarters and chapels, the Mornas Fortress was one of the largest in the French kingdom. This great defensive position was a fortification and lookout since celtic times (an oppidum).
The actual castle dates from the XIth Century. It was then the property of the bishops of Arles. In the XIIth Century it belonged to the Earl of Toulouse. Eventually Raymond VI gave away the castle to the Pope who had its capital in Avignon during a part of the Middle Ages. In the XIIIth Century, it was handed over to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem who could not afford to maintain it for long.
In 1562, during the religious wars, the castle was captured by Calvinists and all the inhabitants massacred with the soldiers thrown over the cliff. When it was later retaken by the Catholics 6 years later, they returned the favor...
After the XVIth Century, the castle lost its vital importance as the country was unified and at peace.
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