Privas

Camping in PRIVAS Ardeche

Located in the Ouvèze valley at the foot of the Coiron plateau, Privas enjoys a sunny climate and like many cities of Ardèche, it offers a truly good life.

All near your campsite, Privas waiting for a guided tour through the city with a historical journey.

Privas, rich history

It is around the small church of Saint Thomas that the first inhabitants came together to found the city. Later, in the thirteenth century, the castrum has established a castle but there is nothing left to the ravages of the religious wars.

The city is growing on the surrounding plateaus to become a city that gets the fiscal, military and economic under the aegis of the Counts of Valencia who themselves pay tribute to the County of Toulouse.

His story changes from the sixteenth century when the city became Protestant – being called huguenot- small state and has a major role during the religious wars against the kings of France, which earned him the nickname “bulwark of reform.” So much so that the Catholic worship was no longer assured for over seventy years and the King’s garrison was denied and the church destroyed. This choice brought him a wave of bloody repression in which many people were killed or fled. It was only in 1629 that the king’s army managed to take the city that was razed.

Privas a heritage to visit

The bridge on the Ouvèze dating from the twelfth century is one of the oldest monuments of the city. He was called Bridge of chauchières since the Middle Ages, it housed the tanneries that “chauchaient” (trampling) skins in large tanks.

Diane turn of Poitiers, a magnificent example of the fifteenth century of administrative buildings which was built by the Poitiers-Valentinois Lords. Renaissance style, it has a beautiful spiral staircase that served the apartments of Privas bailiffs who administered the city. Today, occupying a corner of Republic Square, it serves as an entrance to a mansion.

The former convent of Recollets overhauled during its history, the monastery has no more visible traces of its history having been reformed in court, jail then college after a castle in the fourteenth century. However you can see this very large building flanked by a large square tower with a stone cap.

During your walk through the narrow streets of the old city, you can find other evidence of the rich past of the city.

The door to the Diamonds – The Protestant temple – Belvedere Mont Toulon with his Pieta monumentale-historical journey here

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