Aiguèze rises above the Ardèche River on a rocky cliff. Officially listed among "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" (the most beautiful villages in France), it has held its form over centuries. The streets are narrow, uneven underfoot and lead naturally toward the village ramparts, which lean over the massive river below.
At the center of the village stands Église Saint-Roch d'Aiguèze. Its position is strategic - near the edge of the cliff and presiding in the lived space of the village. It was built in the 11th century and later reworked in the 19th century - part medieval, part more recent. The inside of the church features some painted walls and ceilings that are typical of well-preserved chapels in French villages. Saint Roch was the protector against the plague and rural villages like this one were often hard hit in the waves of disease that came through Europe in medieval times.
Aiguèze has kept its medieval layout intact. Arches, lintel and facades throughout the village show layers of stonework typical of the period.
The sound of footsteps on the cobblestones, the generous flow of the river below, the vast views makes this village a magic spot for a quiet and romantically rainy autumn day.
