Coat of arms :
De gueules
au château
a trois tours d'or, maçonnées de sable
sur un fleuve d'azur
ondelé d'argent.

Châteauneuf du Pape the Capital of the 'Côtes du Rhône de Provence'.
During the 14th century, the Popes chose Châteauneuf as the location where they would spend the summer months. The castle ('Château' in French) was built under the supervision of Jean XXII (from 1316 to 1333) and the vine domain which he set up in parallel have been described and lauded by the novelist Alphonse Daudet. The Popes used this accommodation until 1377, when they returned to Rome.

During the Second World War, this beautiful structure was destroyed. Nowadays there is only one wall left standing of the actual accommodation part, next to one high tower and a low room, all with an extraordinary view of the 'Comtadin' region and the Lhers dungeon.

In the ancient cellar has been installed, to accommodate the 'échansonnerie de Châteauneuf' (the meetings where the wine fraternities of the area meet up) a fabulous reception / banquet room which plays host to prestigious galas and to the 'ban des vendanges' (the feast of the wine-picking season ).
The wine made here is still considered as pontiff :"shining in its purple, vibrating and glowing with the sun of Provence, smelling of the garrigues, seemingly emulating the song of the cicadas" (Baron le Roy).

The production of Châteauneuf du Pape, however, stayed confidential for a very long time, and it was only during the course of the 18th c. that it began to become famous. In 1929, it received the consecration of an 'Appellation d'Origine Châteauneuf du Pape'. This appellation ensures that all the produce of Châteauneuf du Pape submits to very strict rules which serve to ensure that all the wine it makes is excellent.

The thirteen 'cépages' of Châteauneuf gradually make up the ranges of reds which are at the same time glowing, heady and full bodied as well as the bouquet of some great whites which grace the top tables throughout the world.

A land of poets and of 'Lords of wine', and a charming village, currently being restored with the utmost care, the perched village of Châteauneuf du Pape is well-worthy of a prolonged visit and / or stay...