Château de Mornas

The significance of the Mornas rock dates back to antiquity, where it may have already been used by the Gauls as a border point and for monitoring the Rhône. The Romans, who occupied the region after the Battle of Vindalium, founded the Provincia Romana and secured the land route to Spain. They dismantled the oppidum on the rock to prevent rebellions. In the Middle Ages, Mornas was first mentioned in the 9th century and was owned by various ecclesiastical and secular lords, including the Abbey of Aniane and the Counts of Toulouse. The fortress, whose early fortifications were probably made of wood, was often contested due to its strategic location. During the Albigensian Crusade in 1209, Count Raymond VI of Toulouse was forced to cede Mornas to the Church. Later, the fortress fell to the Pope and underwent extensive reconstruction in the 14th and 16th centuries, playing an important role in the Hundred Years' War. In the 16th century, during the Wars of Religion, the neglected fortress was captured by Protestant troops. After the unrest, it lost its military significance and fell into disrepair. From 1977, the association “Amis de Mornas” began extensive restoration of the complex, which was registered as a historical monument in 1927.

The Château de Mornas fortress is located in the municipality of Mornas in the Vaucluse department, part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in France. It is perched at an elevation of approximately 124 meters above sea level on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Rhône Valley.

The remains of the fortress can be visited today. The association “Amis de Mornas” organizes numerous events and historical reenactments during the summer months, bringing the history of the site closer to visitors.

• Roman Triumphal Arch of Arausio (Ancient Buildings), approx. 9.3 km away
• Roman Theatre of Arausio (Ancient Buildings), approx. 10.0 km away
• Château de Suze-la-Rousse (Castle), approx. 12.8 km away
• Château de Montfaucon (Castle), approx. 14.5 km away