Désaignes

Rich in a history of more than 2000 years, Desaignes knew its apogee at the Middle Ages thanks to its craftsmen. Witness of this rich person passed, the old village that you will be able to discover at your rhythm, on the course of the lanes, which you will be able to admire the windows rebirth, where you will be able to pass under the three medieval doors and to finish discovering the castle of the 14th century which shelters the municipal museum.

Stroll in its lanes with discovered of its treasures.

To see:

Three medieval doors, of the fragments of the rampart, old Gothic houses, the inn of the Lion d'Or, the church of Romance style, the temple of the church reformed coupled with the first fortress of XII century, the castle of XIV century, the forging mill, the workshop of sabot-maker and the craft industry.

Visits accompanied in July and August at the beginning by the Tourist office Thursday at 10:00.

The oldest part of the castle dates from XIV century. The municipal museum is installed in its walls. It presents the rural life formerly, the local history through many exposures (schools, life of the castle, the medieval architecture, the register of grievances of the city, the edict of Nantes, resistance at the time of the last war…).

To also see, the splendid spiral staircase and monumental chimney.

Opening from Easter to All Saints' day saturdays and Sunday of 14:00 to 18:00, in July until August; at the days of the inheritance of Tuesday at Sundayfrom 14:00 to 18:00.

This botanical walk of 3 km, near of the village, has as main objective to make discover 135 species of plants and shrubs endemic. Take your time, listen to the rustle of the wind in the branches, observe also the insects and the birds, benefit from the sights on the valley of Soft and the borough of Desaignes. Each farm or hamlet is a clearing in the forest or the moor. The landscape is worked by human work.

Try to bore the secrecies of emblematic sweet chestnut of the Mounts of Ardeche with a play life size, in a sweet chestnut producer. You will touch finger multiple work which the chestnut grove requires of the man season after season to give.

That it is in free or guided visit, a disc will accompany you: question and indices are distributed throughout the path. Open quite large your eyes to find the answers.
This interpretation path is proposed in collaboration with the Natural park of the Mounts of Ardeche.

Caution: by safety the path is closed in period of harvest of sweet chestnuts in October and November.

Desaignes offers to the amateurs a multitude hiking.

The altitude of the commune goes from 385m to the 1196m. This great amplitude united with the orientations different from the slopes of adret and ubac, is with the origin of a landscape varied and changing which multiplies with each turning of the way the pleasure of the walk.