Le Poët-Laval

Le Poët-Laval is a commune located in the department of Drôme in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (France).

The city is a member of “The most beautiful villages of France” association.

Main attractions

The medieval castle. Its rectangular keep was built by the Hospitallers of the order of Saint John of Jerusalem, probably at the beginning of the 13th century.

Built on a rocky hill overlooking the valley, it consisted of two vaulted rooms superimposed on one another and a defensive terrace.

The Saint-Jean-des-Commandeurs chapel. Its construction is probably contemporary with that of the castle (early 13th century).

Located along the surrounding wall which separated the village from the castle courtyard, it served as both a castle chapel and a parish church. From the lower courtyard of the castle, a door gave access to a small gallery from where the lord could attend the service.

Romanesque church.

The Commanderie (or Salon des Commandeurs) is a second castle, probably built in the middle of the 16th century. It was perhaps intended for the accommodation of the squire who administered the estate on behalf of the commanders.

The old Protestant temple of Poët-Laval was built at the beginning of 1622 in an old dwelling house converted into a common house in the 15th century. In 1685, when the Edict of Nantes was revoked, the temple was saved at the last minute from demolition by its status as a common house.

The Museum of Dauphinois Protestantism: The museum is attached to the old temple and presents numerous documents and objects linked to the history of Protestantism in the region.

Art pottery and earthenware:

Like other villages in the Drôme Provençale (Cliousclat, Dieulefit), the artisans of Poët-Laval have been working on glazed clay since at least the beginning of the 18th century.

In 1830, there were many pottery workshops in the village.