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Key figures

Origin and history

The collegiate church of Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbass is part of a major historic site of the Drôme, formerly called vicus Jovinziacus, a Gallo-Roman agglomeration that became a strategic place in the Middle Ages. The village was offered by Boson de Provence to the bishops of Grenoble in the 9th century, who established there a priory and a delphinal palace. The relics of Saint Donat, hermit of the sixth century, were preserved there until their disappearance during the wars of Religion in 1562. The building, rebuilt in the 12th and 15th centuries, preserves Romanesque elements such as the cloister and chapel of bishops.

Over the centuries, Saint-Donat passed under the authority of the dolphins of Vienna, then the crown of France in 1428. The college, initially dependent on the bishops of Grenoble, was then attached to the archdiocese of Vienna before being united with the Jesuit college of Tournon. The site was marked by conflicts, such as the Austrian occupation in 1814 or German abuses in 1944, during which eight hostages were executed. Today, the college houses a German baroque organ and hosts an international festival dedicated to Jean-Sébastien Bach since 1962.

The architecture of the college blends various styles: bell tower of the 12th and 15th centuries, Gothic side chapels, and vestiges of the Delphinal Palace, like the guard room. The site also includes partially preserved medieval ramparts (Porte Saint-Pierre, Les Bétours) and ancient houses. Close to the Moulins de Saint-Donat, ancient sites of silk production, the collegiate illustrates the industrial and religious history of the region, between feudal heritage and cultural renaissance.

The Bach festival, created in 1962, contributed to the fame of the place, attracting renowned musicians such as Marie-Claire Alain or Jean-Pierre Rampal. The collegiate, listed as a Historic Monument for certain parts, also symbolizes the local resistance during the Second World War, having housed figures such as Louis Aragon and Elsa Triolet. Its organ, inspired by Silbermann style, and its novel cloister make it a heritage jewel of the Drôme des Collines.

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