Balazuc

Balazuc is a commune in the Ardèche department (Massif central, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France).

The village has been labelled a “Village of Character” by the Departmental Committee of Tourism. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association.

Balazuc is located some 16 km south of Aubenas just east of Uzer. Access to the commune is by the D579 road from Vogüé.

The Ardèche river flows through the commune and the village from north to south.

Tourism and main attractions

Balazuc is a picturesque medieval village with ramparts, keep and castle dating from the period of the 11th to 13th centuries.

Balazuc Castle.
Notre-Dame de Balazuc Church, from the 11th to the 13th centuries; the stained glass windows are by the painter Yankel.
Sainte-Madeleine Church, dating from the end of the 19th century.

Notre-Dame de Lourdes chapel in Balazuc.
Balazuc sarcophagus, paleochristian sarcophagus from the end of the 4th or beginning of the 5th century, found in the hamlet of Les Salles, visible under the town hall.

Saint-Jean-Baptiste funerary chapel, in ruins, from the 13th century. Attributed to Guillaume des Eperviers, rich and powerful lord (end of the 12th – beginning of the 13th century), by a coat of arms carved on the facade bearing a hawk.
13th century fortified house (square tower).

Ardèche Museum where more than 800 original fossils are exhibited which tell the geological history of Ardèche and retrace the main fossil sites of Ardèche.
Porte de la Sablière, the best preserved gate of the ancient ramparts.
Tower of Queen Jeanne de Balazuc (private property).
Barasses climbing site.
Cooperative village of Viel Audon.
Hamlet of Louanes.