Tournon-sur-Rhône
Tournon-sur-Rhône, the Ardèche across the bridge
Tournon faces Tain from the other side of the Rhône. You walk there in five minutes over the Marc Seguin footbridge. A castle on the rock, old lanes, and the departure point of the Train de l'Ardèche.
The footbridge
Marc Seguin's bridge
In 1825 the Ardèche engineer Marc Seguin opened between Tournon and Tain the first large suspension bridge in continental Europe to use iron-wire cables. That first structure was demolished in 1965; the present footbridge, built by Seguin himself a little downstream in 1847-1849, is still there.
Reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, you can see it from the house's terrace, and you cross it to go to dinner in Tournon.
The town
The castle, the lycée, the lanes
Tournon castle, built on the rock between the 14th and 16th centuries, houses the town museum and overlooks the Rhône, Tain and the Hermitage hill. It is the castle you glimpse from the second-floor bedroom.
Next door, the Lycée Gabriel-Faure, founded in 1536, is considered the oldest lycée in France. The lanes of old Tournon and the quays complete the walk.
The Train de l'Ardèche
The Doux gorges by steam
From Tournon–Saint-Jean station, the Train de l'Ardèche, known as the Mastrou, climbs the Doux gorges on a narrow-gauge line to Lamastre. Some thirty kilometres, often by steam, through country unreachable by road.
A full day with the stop in Lamastre, or half a day for the shorter options. Booking recommended in season. Ideal with children.
Book
Sleep facing the castle
From the house, Tournon is five minutes' walk over the footbridge.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Tain-l'Hermitage to Tournon-sur-Rhône?
On foot or by bike over the Marc Seguin footbridge, five minutes from the house. By car, over the Gustave Toursier road bridge, a little further north.
Does the Train de l'Ardèche leave from Tournon?
Yes, from Tournon–Saint-Jean station on the Ardèche bank, about two kilometres from the footbridge. The train climbs the Doux gorges to Lamastre.
What is there to see at Tournon castle?
The castle houses the Tournon museum, devoted to the town's history, Rhône river boating and Marc Seguin. Its terraces overlook the river and the Hermitage hill.