We cruised south on the Soane River most of the night, then upon reaching the confluence of the Soane and Rhone rivers near Lyon, continued the journey southward on the Rhone. We woke up this morning docked at Tain L’Hermitage, a charming riverside town, renowned for its world-famous vineyards and sweeping views across to the hills of the Hermitage. Known for its sunny, temperate climate it is ideal for growing grapes. It forms one of the most prestigious wine-producing areas in the northern Rhone valley.
Just across the river sits Tournon-sur-Rhone, its more historic neighbor. This medieval city, is best known for its castles, old town and panoramic views. Tain and Tournon are connected by an historic suspension bridge. Marc Sequin, a local inventor and entrepreneur, designed the original footbridge (the first suspension bridge in continental Europe), which was completed in 1825. This bridge was later demolished and replaced by the current bridge in 1949. A statue of Marc Sequin stands near the river in Tournon-sur-Rhone.
The Chateau de Tournon, built in the 16th century by the Tournon family, has been listed as an official historic monument since 1926. The site began as a feudal stronghold in the 9th and 10th centuries. It has been a residential palace, a state prison and now a museum. We tried to visit the museum but unfortunately only managed to see the inner courtyard as it was closed due to a film crew being on site.
We visited St. Julien church in the centre of town. Built in the gothic style between 1316 and 1348, it has an historic chapel with rare 15th to 16th century wall paintings.
We explored the streets and laneways of Tournon before heading back over the footbridge to Tain L’Hermitage. Some pics of sights along the way.
Tain L’Hermitage is a small town with just 5,700 inhabitants. This is the place to visit local wineries to taste some of the region’s famous wines produced from the Syrah grapes that grow on the steep slopes that line the river. We passed on the wine tasting (a bit too early in the day) and chose to explore more of the town before boarding the boat by the 1:00 p.m. deadline. We spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the scenery along the Rhone as we cruised towards our next destination.
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