Marsanne

The village of Marsanne can be seen from a long way off. It seems to pour down from the top of the hill and the 11th century keep to the vineyards on the plain - and in fact, the village has given its name to a highly reputed variety of white grape.

Like a vast fan spread out at the foot of its hills, Marsanne can be seen from afar. The white silhouette of the 12th-century church of Saint-Félix points the way. From the now ruined keep, the village has "flowed" over the centuries, spreading out into the plain as if to caress the vineyards at its feet. The latter are a reminder that the land has given its name to a grape variety, Marsanne, which is used to make wines from the northern Côtes du Rhône and the Valais region of Switzerland. To visit the old hilltop village, you'll need to walk back in time along the Rue des Comtes de Poitiers, known as "la Côte", from the Château de Montluisant. Up to the belfry, visitors venture through the 17th century. Beyond is the medieval part, lovingly restored since the 1960s by new inhabitants after its gradual abandonment at the beginning of the last century.