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Origin and history

The Château de la Selve, located in Grospierres en Ardèche, finds its origins in the 13th century as a fortress on the borders of the Kingdom of France. Its architecture, typical of the castles of Bas-Vivarais to Provence, is characterized by an inner courtyard and four towered corner, a legacy of Roman castella and fortified Russian villæ of the High Middle Ages. This style, unique to seigneurial houses, has continued well beyond the Renaissance, reflecting a tradition of fortification of country houses in the region.

Originally a hunting relay for the Dukes of Joyeuse, an illustrious family of Vivarais, the castle was profoundly damaged at the end of the 18th century. It changed hands after being sold by the Countess of Marsan to Channac Cadet for 44,250 pounds, before turning into a farm over the centuries. Its exceptional environment, protected on the banks of Chassezac (a tributary of the Ardèche), makes it a remarkable site, today dedicated to viticulture.

Since the 20th century, the castle belongs to the Chazallon family, which runs a 38 hectare wine estate in organic and biodynamic farming under the direction of Benoît Chazallon. The estate produces two ranges of wines: Les Confidentielles (Florence, Ludacieux, Madame de) and Les Classiques (Serre de Berty, Beaulieu, Palissaire, Maguelonne, Saint Régis), mixing wine tradition and historical heritage.

The castle thus illustrates the transition from medieval fortifications to agricultural and wine farms, while preserving the architectural traces of its seigneurial past. Its history reflects the economic and social changes of Vivarais, from feudal times to today.

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