Built on a rocky promontory, the medieval fortress of Suze-la-Rousse is a spectacular military structure protected by towers and a rampart. It was transformed in the 16the then on the 18the century in a large residence. The austerity of the external defenses, which powerfully dominate the fortified village, is contrasted by the Renaissance facades of the courtyard of honor, as well as the rich interior of the paintings, stuccos and plasterworks of the salons.
Near the castle, a listed historical monument, lies the warren, a vast wooded area where the walls of a 16th-century tennis court still stand.e century, of a dovecote and a chapel.
Acquired by the Drôme Department in 1965, the château has been the subject of a vast project subtly weaving together the site's history and the wine-growing heritage of the Drôme region. A museum tour was inaugurated in the spring of 2013.
Until 2025, the site housed the University of Wine, an internationally renowned school.
Loïc Julien
Jean Marie Gassend
Located at the eastern end of a rocky spur, the original castle dates from the 12th century.e century. Owned by the powerful Baux family, it is defended by a moat and includes a main tower – the keep – and a second tower. The entrance, located at the 1er The upper floor is then accessible via a movable wooden ladder.
Occupied by a oppidum at the end of the Iron Age (2e-1er (c. 5th century BC), the site remained a strategic location in the Middle Ages. Facing Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail, it overlooks the plain of the Comtat Venaissin, papal territory from 1229. In the 14the century, the castle resisted the assaults of the troops of Pope Clement VII, in conflict with the lord of Suze, Raymond V des Baux.
Originally from the Arles region, the Baux family settled in the 10the century in the Alpilles. Members of the Provençal aristocracy, they quickly extended their possessions in the lower Rhône valley.
Au 12e century, one of them – Bertrand Ier des Baux – through marriage, became Lord of Orange and Susa. He obtained from his overlord – the Holy Roman Emperor – the title of Prince of Orange, which his descendants enjoyed until the end of the 14th century.e century.
To the 13e and 14the In the 16th century, the towered castle was enlarged. A military enclosure with two gates was added. This expansion necessitated filling in the old moat and creating a new one. The castle had a cistern carved into the rock, connected to a well, which facilitated the water supply.
With the Hundred Years' War, the castle was transformed into a fortress and adapted its defenses to the progress of artillery. Three corners of the enclosure received sturdy circular towers pierced with gun ports, while in the fourth corner, the keep was reinforced.
A staircase, built in a new tower, provides direct access to the castle from the village.
Descended from the Dauphiné nobility, the La Baume family became lords of Suze in 1426 through the marriage of Louis to Antoinette, daughter of Marguerite des Baux.
For four centuries, they worked to transform the castle into a fortress and then into a pleasure residence. The last male descendant, Pierre-Louis, died in 1799.
The expansion of the town followed that of the castle. Two ramparts (12e and 14the centuries) successively encompass the old village and the new quarters while a stop wall protects the lord's mill.
At the end of the Hundred Years' War, the lord supported the development of the town by granting the villagers a charter (1452). They were freed from guarding the castle and benefited from the right to cut wood, graze their livestock and fish.
Loïc JulienGuillaume de La Baume, who "distinguished himself in the Italian Wars,"* modernized the fortress. His son François continued the work, building a courtyard framed by Renaissance facades and new apartments. This pleasure residence was complemented by a park containing a tennis court.
Born in 1526, François de La Baume distinguished himself during the bloody Wars of Religion. A member of the Catholic faction, he was close to François Lorraine, the second Duke of Guise (1519-1563), whom he received in 1557.
A key military leader for the control of the Rhône Valley, he led numerous battles, including the siege of Montélimar in 1587 where he lost his life.
Blaise Adilon
Francois ClouetFrançois de La Baume was appreciated by the last Valois. On September 21, 1564, he welcomed Charles IX accompanied by his mother Catherine de Medici and the royal entourage, on the occasion of his grand tour of France.
During his career, he received various positions and honors: governor of the Comtat Venaissin (1562), governor of Provence and admiral of the fleet in the Mediterranean (1578), lieutenant general of the Dauphiné (1580) and knight of the orders of the Holy Spirit and Saint Michael (1581)
To the 17e and 18the For centuries, the La Baume family resided in the town and regularly stayed in Suze. The castle, a symbol of the power and antiquity of the lineage, became their holiday home. They undertook significant renovations: large bay windows opened onto the landscape, while a grand staircase provided access to the apartments, decorated with stucco and plasterwork.
Genevieve Pizzecco
Robert de NanteuilLouis-François de La Baume (1604-1690) was the youngest son in his family, which predestined him for the Church. At 17, he was appointed Bishop of Viviers. Following in his grandfather's footsteps, he defended Catholic orthodoxy against Protestantism.
A loyal servant of the king, he presided over the Estates of Languedoc in 1656 and became a patron by financing a conversation room at the castle of Suze-la-Rousse.
At the beginning of the Revolution, the young Count of Suze, Pierre-Louis de La Baume, was a student in Switzerland. Declared an émigré in 1792, his property was confiscated. The château, though damaged, escaped demolition. Having his name removed from the list of émigrés, Pierre-Louis recovered his property in 1797.
Upon his death, his sister Aldonce, wife of Gabriel des Isnards, inherited the castle. The last descendant of the family, the Marquise de Bryas, died in 1958.
The Marquise de Bryas, née Germaine de Witte (1887-1958), belonged to the cultured nobility of the 20th century.e century. In 1912, she married Baron Georges de Bryas, who died in combat during the First World War.
Upon the death of her mother, Eliane des Isnards, in 1939, she inherited the château and settled there permanently with her staff. She led a simple life there and bequeathed the château to the Orphelins Apprentis d'Auteuil foundation, which sold it in 1965 to the Drôme Department.
Classified as a historical monument in 1964, the castle became the property of the Drôme Department a year later. Over the decades, it has benefited from several restoration campaigns, including work on the roofs, facades, courtyard paving, and exterior woodwork.
Since 1978, it has housed the University of Wine, an internationally recognized training center. The current visitor experience presents the history of the site and the winemaking heritage of the region. A vibrant cultural venue, the château offers guided tours, family activities, and performances.
chadam communication Damien Chaillan