Rural heritage of Saint-Diéry and Creste

Saint-Diéry-Bas is home to an important château-fort transformed in the 18th century, whose grounds house a Romanesque chapel (private).

To the east, the village of Creste and its ruined castle seem at one with the rock that supports them. Dominated by a pretty chapel with its combed bell tower,(…)

Saint-Diéry-Bas is home to an important château-fort transformed in the 18th century, whose grounds house a Romanesque chapel (private).

To the east, the village of Creste and its ruined castle seem at one with the rock that supports them. Dominated by a pretty chapel with its combed bell tower, the village is perched on a ridge 820 m above sea level. The castle, of which only ruins remain, was owned by the lords of Creste in the 12th century. The Saint-Laurent chapel was part of the castle walls. The most significant feature is the comb bell tower with its 2 arched bays housing a single bell.
From the chapel, a path climbs up to the rocky spur bearing the remains of the castle. From up there, the view stretches far over the Massif du Sancy, the couze Pavin valley and the village of Saurier at the foot of the mountain.