Grignan

Grignan is a commune with 1625 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in southern France in the Drôme department in the Rhône -Alpes. The city owes its fame to its magnificent Renaissance castle and the famous letters which Madame de Sévigné to her daughter, Madame de Grignan, wrote in the 17th century.

• 2.1 Population development

• 3.1 The Castle of Grignan
• 3.2 The Collegiate Church of Saint- Sauveur
• 3.3 The Grotto of Rochecourbière
• 3.4 The letterpress Museum
• 3.5 Le Provençal Village Miniature

Geography

Geographical Location

Grignan is located in the south of the Drome region, not far from the Vaucluse, near the Mount Ventoux in Tricastin, which is the highest mountain in Provence.

From the A7 motorway Grignan is to achieve south or Bollène at the connection points Montelimar.

Agriculture

The main crops in this area are lavender, truffles, wheat and sunflowers. The nearby town of Nyons is famous for its olives and olive oil with appellation controlée.

History

Various archaeological studies have shown that the rocky promontory of Grignan has been inhabited since the Iron Age. There are both evidence of a former Bronze Age society, as well as a Roman garrison in the fifth and sixth centuries. Historians have noted that in 1035 an insignificant castellum Gradignanum a cartulary of the abbey of Saint- Caffre in the Haute- Loire ( castellum: Latin for " fortified camp " ) mentioned. In the course of the following century, the name evolved over castrum Grainan ( 1105) to Graigna, Grazinam ...

There is little about the origins of the castle, or on those who have built it known. A certain Christoph de Grignan has lived in the period around 1030, and in 1035 mentioned the cartulary of Saint- Chaffre a Rostagnus de castello Gradignano. Due to certain documents, it appears that the family Grignan has a century later well established. But the Grignans lose possession of the castle, which bears her name. Beginning in 1239, the records show that Grignan not heard the Grignans. The new owner was rather the family Adhemar de Monteil.

The expansion of the castle coincided with the rise of the power of Adhemar family of Grignan. The Adhemar were powerful and so the castle must needs also grow. Starting with the 13th century by Baron Adhemar rose to the Duke, and were finally collected by Henry II, King of France in the state of the count. The castle of Grignan was gradually expanded into an impressive bulwark. The line of Adhemar ended when Louis Adhemar died without a direct descendant of 1559. The title and possession of Louis Adhemar, Count of Grignan, fell upon his nephew Gaspard de Castellane, son of Louis sister Blanche Adhemar. Although Adhemar was a sublime family, the Castellane clan vied with respect to the glory with them.

The castle was eventually François Castellano - Adhemar of Monteil Ornano de Grignan, who also carried the knight in the service of the king beside his titles as Duke of Termoli, Count of Grignan, Count of Campobasso and Baron of Entrecasteaux.

François, the last Count of Grignan was twice a widower ( his wives Angélique - Glarisse d' Angiennes, daughter of the Marquis de Rambouillet and Marie- Angélique of Puy -du- Rou died in quick succession ). For his third marriage, he chose a certain Françoise- Marguerite de Sévigné, daughter of the Marquise of the same name, whose famous letters have perpetuated the memory of their son and to his castle to this day.

Population Development

Since 1960, the population Grignans steadily increasing. After Taulignan the church of Grignan has the second largest population.

Culture and sights

The castle of Grignan

Not much is received from the originally built in the eleventh century medieval castle. It was only in the 13th century it was enlarged by the family Adhemar into a fortress and renewed from 1545 to 1558 by Louis Adhemar. From 1668 to 1690 François de Castellane - Adhemar has it rebuilt the castle into a Renaissance castle. Destroyed to ruins during the French Revolution, it was reconstructed in the 19th century and was partly nostalgic attachments such as the medieval tower pair Poivrières ( " Pepper cans "). A complete reconstruction of the castle occurred in the early 20th century notion of the rich banker 's widow Madame Fontaine. They invested all their assets to be re- created it in its old splendor. Today it belongs to the Drome region, is a major tourist attraction. In addition to the opportunity to visit the premises, hosts regular cultural events, such as concerts and exhibitions held.

The Collegiate Church of Saint- Sauveur

Set amongst the castle terrace, the collegiate church was built in 1535-1539 at the request of Louis Adhemar. The Renaissance façade is flanked by two square towers and has a rose window in Gothic style. Inside, there are an organ loft and an impressive altar from the 17th century. On the floor in front of the altar is a marble funerary stone which marks the sealed entrance to the grave of Madame de Sévigné.

The Grotto of Rochecourbière

This is not very deep in the rock solid, natural cave located about half a kilometer away from Grignan and was a favorite place to write for Madame de Sévigné.

The letterpress Museum

The letterpress museum is in a building from the 15th century in the middle of the small, typical Provencal village at the foot of the castle of Grignan. It used to be the house of the castle Vogten and supreme court of the area. Today is in the lavishly restored building an active letterpress workshop and a museum of letterpress machines from the century before last.

Le Provençal Village Miniature

On the basis of nativity figures ( santon ) the Provencal village life is shown at the beginning of the 20th century. Covering an area of ​​approximately 400 m² typical scenes such as life on the market, on the farm and the game of petanque can be seen on the village square. The miniature village is run since 1996 as the " largest nativity scene in the world" in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Specialty

• Grignan is the capital of the black truffle (tuber melanosporum ).

Personalities

• Morton Beiser ( b. 1936 ), professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto
• Roger Duchêne (1936-2006), specializing in the letters of Madame de Sévigné biographer
• Sérgio Ferro ( born 1938 ), Brazilian painter, architect and professor
• J. Timothy Hunt ( born 1959 ), American- Canadian author and journalist
• Philippe Jaccottet ( born 1925 ), Swiss poet and translator, published in French
• Madame de Sévigné (1626-1696), French nobleman, known for the letters to her daughter