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History of Chateauneuf du Pape
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Châteauneuf du Pape has always constituted a strategic position in the Rhône Valley.
Written history begins in the year 908, when LOUIS THE BLIND, king of Burgundy- Provence, gave REMIGIUS, bishop of Avignon a whole territory between the Sorgues and Rhône rivers, where Bédarrides and Châteauneuf were included.
FREDERICk II BARBEROSSA confirmed the gift, but the terms "Château neuf" (Castrum novum or new castle)) can only be explained by the existence of an older castle, that of Hers, of which the ruins still remained.
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In 1146 a tower went up that was described as "old" by 1283 and which had surely come after a Roman "castrum", itself probably destroyed during the invasions.
The vineyard of Châteauneuf du Pape only comes out of historic obscurity in the year of our lord 1157. At that date, FREDERICK II BARBEROSSA gave the imperial fief including the town, the vineyards and the dependancies to GUFREDUS, bishop of Avignon.
At the end of the 12th century, the Templars settled in Châteauneuf. There they established a fortress by reinforcing the episcopal château and planted vines on their farms. The Albigensian war began. King LOUIS VIII and SIMON DE MONTFORT descended the Rhône Valley (1226), settling in Villeneuve-les-Avignon. Passing over the Saint-Bénézet bridge, they laid seige to the city of Avignon. The Albigensian Crusade is of capital importance for what follows in our history. As it happened, in 1229, the treaty of Paris took away the COMTAT-VENAISSIN from the Counts of Toulouse and gave it to the Roman Church. That is what later brought the Papacy to Avignon and consequently Châteauneuf.
In the 13th century, Châteauneuf du Pape was a village of 1000 inhabitants, the vineyards at the time represented 300 hectares.
In 1307, PHILIPPE-LE-BEL ordered the imprisonment of the now too rich Templars and the confiscation of their properties. Those of Châteauneuf disappeared like the others.
Former bishop of Avignon, JACQUES D'EUZE was elected Pope in 1316. Become Jean XXII, he personally takes in hand the bishopric of Avignon. Châteauneuf came directly under his authority. He envisaged its total reconstruction and in 1317 the first works were undertaken. They were completed in 1333. There they planted grapevines and olive trees. According to the archives of the Apostolic Chamber, in 1334, the total number of grapevines at Châteauneuf du Pape was estimated at more than 3 million, that which seems to repesent 600 to 800 hectares of vineyard.
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JEAN XXII's successeurs don't seem to have overly interested themselves in the château and Papal property, except perhaps CLEMENT VI. Then came the Wars of Religion; after the devastators passed through all that remained was the keep and a big section of wall.
Starting in 1500, the wine of Châteauneuf had acquired a certain fame as attest the many acts of sales to the people of Orange and Avignon.
In 1578, repair work was carried out on the Château of Châteauneuf du Pape. The building was rented to an Irish baron In 1728. In 1793, the wine-makers obtained the right to sell their production at a price one third higher than the maximum departmental price because "the wine of Châteauneuf is recognized as being of superior quality in all seasons".
Towards 1800, 668 hectares, of which 425 hectares were vineyards on small parcels of 1400 m2, produced on average 11,000 hectolitres in a "common year". Wine was an important trade and the inhabitants continued to plant new parcels.
In 1829, nearly 2000 hectolitres of Châteauneuf du Pape wine were sold outside of the department.
During the German occupation, the castle tower of Châteauneuf du Pape, transformed, seved as an observation post and arms depot. Then came the allied landings and the retreat of Hitler's forces who, on August 20, 1944, blew up the ammunitions reserve.
Most of the edifice collapsed ; only the eastern face was spared, as well as the lower halls.
Happily, the furor of man could not completely reduce the "Château-neuf" and the 21st century visitor enjoys a view of the chateau nearly identical to that had by JEAN XXII when he left the Papal city to go to his preferred resting spot.
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History of Chateauneuf du Pape |
Château Mont Redon
BP 10 Chateauneuf du Pape Cedex
Phone : +33 (0)4 90 83 72 75 - Fax : +33 (0)4 90 83 77 20
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