Le Poët-Laval

Le Poet-Laval is a commune with 938 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Drôme in the Rhône -Alpes; it belongs to the canton in the arrondissement of Nyons Dieulefit. The inhabitants are called Poët- Lavaliens or Poët- Lavalliennes. In September 2010, the city the title of " Les plus beaux villages de France " was awarded.

Geography

Le Poet-Laval is located at an altitude of about 310 meters above sea level in the south of the Drôme Provençale. Embedded in the summer months in blue violet flowering lavender fields, to Poët -Laval rises with its castle and the Romanesque church ruin on a wooded spur of rock above the Jabron.

The distance to Dieulefit is six kilometers away, there are 24 km and Montelimar to Avignon 70 miles.

Demographics

History

The town's name derives from the Latin and means pogetum vallis le petit mont dans la vallée to German: " Small mountain above the valley ."

The story Poët- Laval is closely linked with the history of the Order of Malta, with them begins the real history of the place, as they in Poët -Laval built the then largest Upcoming Provence in the 12th century. The earliest recorded mention as Poietum Vallis originates from 1269 Due to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 came to an extensive depopulation because the inhabitants wanted to keep her Protestant faith.; Poët -Laval began in the aftermath into disrepair move. Only in the second half of the 20th century the place was due to the influx of artists of different genres, which restored to inexpensive summer quarters here, regain quality and residents.

Old entrance with stairs

Panel of the Maltese

At the Hospital

Gothic lancet windows at the Hospital

Attractions

Townscape

• From the Romanesque comes the half-ruined chapel with the above the semicircular apse uplifting John Tower.
• In addition to the hospital, whose façade is pierced with Gothic arched windows, a defiant defense tower rises.
• The flanked with towers Coming of knighthood was built in the 15th century. Its facade is decorated with Gothic crosses - the eight-pointed white cross of Malta symbolizes the eight beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount.
• The location superb medieval castle Poët -Laval of the Comte de Poitiers.

Museum of the History of Protestantism in the Dauphiné

Housed in the old Lutheran church here the history of Protestantism in the Dauphiné and in particular the time of the Huguenot persecution after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes is documented.

Interior

Interior view of the church interior

Culture

Poët -Laval has since the 1970s to an artists' and - develop a cultural center of the region - especially in the summer months:

• Since 1995, offers the "Centre international d' art et d'animation Raymond du Puy " themed exhibitions and solo exhibitions nationally and internationally renowned contemporary artists.
• From March to September, there are regular concerts held various genres, continue
• In the months of August and September, the " Festival of the regional choirs ."
• For this purpose, in the summer months coming artists Junk and farmers' markets in the castle and
• Castle tours daily.

Personalities

• Gerard Reve (* 1926, † 2006), Dutch writer; lived many years in Poët- Laval.
• Yvan Theimer (1944 ), Czech sculptor