La porte fortifiée du château des Poitiers

The Poitiers castle, also known as the castle of Diane de Poitiers, or the castle of la boisse, probably belonged to the Bishops of Valence from the beginning and then to the Poitiers. Interior not visitable

The château was sold in the 15th century to the first dauphin, future King Louis XI, but on his death it was returned in good condition to Aymar de Poitiers-Saint-Vallier (grandfather of Diane de Poitiers). This is one of the many residences in the region where Diane de Poitiers stayed, as attested by the municipal archives (September 1565). Local tradition has it that she was born here in 1499, although other communes in the Drôme and Ardèche regions also claim to be the birthplace of the countess.
There is no written record of this. The original construction of this castle at the beginning of the feudal era consisted of a pentagonal keep, as shown on the 1698 plan, located on the site of the municipal park. In 1277, this construction was known as the Tour ancienne. A second tower with a large gateway was built in the 13th century by the Poitiers family to reinforce the castrum's defense. From 1292, the whole complex was known as La Bistour (two towers). A high wall, still visible today, enclosed the complex. The town was also surrounded by a rampart closed by five town gates. Traces of the rampart walls remain (La Puya,
boulevard des Remparts), the corbels of the old parapet walk, the machicolations... In 1626, following Louis XIII's edict advocating the destruction of any fortress not used for the defense of the Kingdom, the Château des Poitiers lost its towers and keep. Over the centuries, the monumental gateway, the outbuildings, the Tour des Balistes (Crossbow Tower), the coachman's house and the stables have stood the test of time. This ruined site was gradually used as a stone quarry, from which most of the town's houses were built.
Honoré Laurent de Parisot de Durant de la Boisse purchased almost all the castle ruins. He restored and developed the lower part of the old buildings backing onto the ramparts.
Other important figures in French history are said to have stayed here, including François 1er and Charles IX.