St Paul Trois Chateaux

The ancient capital of the region (Tricastin, named after the original Gallic inhabitants), St Paul sadly has no châteaux - the name is more likely to have been derived from the old name for the city, St Paul en Tricastin. In Latin, tricastri translates as three castles and it seems this also lead to the towns coat of arms which features three towers and a crown.

The village is home to one of France's national monuments, the Cathedral Notre Dame et Saint Paul - a Romanesque structure from the 12th century. It's widely considered to be one of the most complete examples of Provençal Romanesque architecture, characterised by its simplicity, large volumes and perfectly paired building stones. The interior is noted for the carvings on the top floor of the nave.

The town lends itself to exploring, and a nice view can be obtained from the top of the hill. The tourist office offers multilingual audio guides of the main historical sites in St Paul, so you can learn about the Gallo-Roman remains, the medieval town with its Jewish quarter, and buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. For more detailed information about St Paul's history, visit the Musée d'Archeologie.

There is a good selection of shops for general shopping and for souvenirs.

To the west of St Paul Trois Châteaux you may want to visit the Caves of Saint Marcel d'Ardeche with its network of underground rivers and cathedral ceilings.

The weekly market is held on Tuesday mornings, and a farmers market is held on the first and third Sunday of every month.

Every Sunday from December to March, black truffles are on sale in La Place de l’Esplan.

There is a Maison de la Truffe in the town which is open throughout the year.

Other local produce includes olives and olive oil, wine, a special goats cheese called Picodon, summer fruits such peaches and apricots and lavender (there is a Lavender distillery open to the public in Nyons).

For those looking to be a bit more active, there is a trail called the Chemin des Arts Tricastin which is a footpath that takes you through the towns of La Garde Adhemar, St Paul, St Restitut and Clansayes, that takes you past Romanesque chapels and contemporary art installations. There are many other day and half-day hiking routes in and around St Paul - ask at the tourist office for details.

There are four marked cycling circuits from the town each of around 20km, an ideal way to explore the countryside. St Paul is also a regular host to the Tour de France.

There are a couple of forest adventure parks in the vicinity - La Fôret des Jeux boasts over 40 games for both adults and children, and Acro Pole Aventure to the north-east offers Via Ferrata, nature trails and outdoor adventures.