CAIRANNE

Cairanne, the village > the wine AOC « Cairanne » > Photos > Information

Cairanne, a wine-growing village

Cairanne is an old village located on a promontory, it seems to emerge as an island in the heart of an ocean of vines. It stands out from the Ventabren hill which separates the valleys of Ouvèze and Aygues. Cairanne is a natural lookout point: to the east, the view over the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux, to the west over the Aygues valley and the Rhône valley.

Archaeological research in Cairanne has documented a very ancient occupation dating back at least to the Neolithic period. Many remains of Roman times have also been found. The modern village appeared in the archives in the 12th century under the name of Castri Cairanne. The square keep overlooking the old village is called the Templar Tower, but the presence of the Templars in Cairanne has not been demonstrated. The village was a stronghold of the Order of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, then it came under the authority of the Pope in the 14th century. The Religious Wars in the 16th century severely affected the region. Cairanne was forcibly taken by Protestants coming from the neighbouring village of Sainte-Cécile in 1563 but was quickly taken over by the pontifical troops. He was invested by the troops of the Protestant chief, the Duke of Lesdiguières, in 1588.

In the 19th century, the inhabitants abandoned the high village to settle in the plain. Nevertheless, there are still some old buildings that bear witness to the history of the area, which make walking in the old village interesting and offer spectacular views of the region. Until the 19th century, only two gates allowed entry into the village: the Autan gate in the east, and next to the Saint Roch chapel, which is supported by the wall of the ramparts. The chapel was built in 1726 following a plague epidemic in Provence that spared Cairanne. The church bell tower at the top of the promontory gives a slender profile to the village, it was only built in the 19th century in a Romanesque Revival style in vogue at that time. The Sergeant's Gate is the second medieval gate, it was defended by a barbican

the wine AOC "Cairanne" in the region of "Côte-du-Rhône".

Vines have been cultivated since Roman times in Cairanne. In the 19th century, production developed with the possibility of transport by rail, so white wine was popular. In 1929, the cooperative cellar was created, which today includes 200 winegrowers and 80% of the appellation. Since 1953, Cairanne has been one of the 16 villages in the Rhône Valley that have obtained the privilege of adding their names to the AOC Côtes du Rhône Village, and among them the "Cairanne" stands out for its quality and reputation.

The clayey-calcareous soil, the sloping slopes well exposed to the sun and stony, favour the development of a wine for ageing. In Cairanne, 90% of red wine, 7% white wine and 3% white wine are produced. Cairanne is the largest area of Côtes du Rhône Village: 760 hectares cultivated for 24540 hectolitres of wine produced.

The quality of Cairanne wines is recognized throughout the world, a large part of the production is exported to the United States, China, Japan and South Korea.

Visit of Cairanne in photos : slideshow

Accommodation and practical information

Selection of b&b near Cairanne on the portal of guest rooms in Provence

 

Website of the village of Cairanne : www.cairanne.fr

What to see and what to do in Cairanne?

• Wine Festival on the 4th Sunday in July, with the participation of the Gilles de Flobecq in Belgium, the twin town of Cairanne
• Templar Tower: it is an exhibition space
• Chapel Notre-Dame-des-Excès and Chapel Saint-Roch
• Ramparts and medieval gates of Autan and Sergeant
• The old village is scattered with gardens that allow you to enjoy the panoramic views of the landscapes around Cairanne,
• Hiking and cycling, the GR4 trail passes through the village
• Weekly market on Thursday

Coming To Cairanne

GPS coordinates N 44° 14' 02'' - E 4°56' 03''

 

Cairanne location : altitude 150 meters, 1060 inhabitants, à 5 km from Rasteau, 5 km from Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, 11 km from Suze-la-Rousse, 12 km from Vacqueyras, 12 km from Gigondas, 13 km from Séguret, 16 km from Vaison-la-Romaine, 19 km from Orange, 21 km from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 42 km from Avignon.