History of Entrechaux

The history of Entrechaux is revealed to us by its caves, by tools, accessories for fishing and hewed flint weapons, the oldest dating from 80000 BC.

There are several sites, in particular those in the gorges of Ouvèze. But it remains little of accessible testimonys today, what was regarded as " paradise of the prehistorians " will be found either in museums (St Germain en Laye in particular) or in private collections. Then, the oldest identified temporary establishments are Ligures, between the third millennium and the 4th century BC. They were driven out by the Celtic tribe of Voconces. Today 12 villages of our surroundings claim those origins. According to several historians, one day in summer of year 218 BC, Hannibal the Carthagenese supposedly followed the bed of Ouvèze with his troops and 37 elephants. One of these animals consequently inspired a silhouette by an artist living a cave contemporary of the event. The wars of conquest of Rome followed, then the Gallo-Roman period marked by Pax Romana, with achievements such as agricultural roads, aqueducts, villages, craft industry, pottery, etc. Later on, the barbarian invasions of Burgondes and the Francs marked the population settlement of our area. Little further, between 8th and mid 9th century, a settlement was brought on by Sarrazins resulting from series of warlike alliances with the first Earls of Provence.

The history then merges with that of the two castles of Entrechaux. Started in the year 900, the Small Castle, with its fortified chapel (St Quenin) and a watertank dug in the rock, was built by the bishops of Vaison. At the time of the quarrels with the Earls of Toulouse this castle was shared with the village lord. Then the lord built the Large Castle below the first one, with a donjon more than 20 meters height, the St Laurent chapel, and several constructions, with ramparts and two common fortified gates.

This is also the time of the construction of the three Roman chapels which can be visited on one of the walking circuits. The War of the Religions marked the life of the castle since in 1563 the lord opened its gates to the huguenots. One period of plunderings, ransoms and assassinations followed for a few years. The French Revolution was not marked by particular events, except the stay of Condorcet, and the end of smuggling with Dauphiné province. Although the revolutionary period was over a group of extremists come from the East undertook the destruction of the two castles!
st également celle de la construction des trois chapelles romanes que l'on visite dans un circuit. La Guerre des Religions a marqué la vie du château puisqu'en 1563 le seigneur livre celui-ci aux huguenots. Une période de pillages, de rançons et d'assassinats a suivi pendant quelques années. La période de la Révolution Française n'a pas été marquée d'évènements particuliers, sauf le passage de Condorcet, et la disparition de la contrebande avec le Dauphiné. Toutefois, la période révolutionnaire passée, un groupe d'extrémistes venus de l'Est entreprit de détruire le château !

The 19th and the 20th centuries saw the village developing, until it reached 1150 inhabitants (today, 890) expanding out from the steep slopes of the castles hill. The sections of wall of the castles then supplied with stones the building sites on the hill-foot! For this reason, the restoration in progress still has a long way to go ! The last important historical event, that of the Second World war, was marked by the presence and the activity of the Resistance's "maquis" of Drôme and the Mont Ventoux.

Considering the economic history of Entrechaux, the inhabitants have seen come and go the culture of hemp, madder, mulberry tree and silkworms. Nowadays, vineyard, wine, fruit trees, olives, tourism, few other activities related to nature and services of proximity pertain to the principal activities of the village.

For more information: see the bibliography.