Pranles: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Culture

The Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption church in Pranles was originally a priory church dependent on La Chaise-Dieu Abbey and dates back to the 11th century. The Romanesque church of Pranles is listed as a historic monument.

The present-day Moulin de Mandy dates from 1891 and was built on the remains of a mill first documented as early as 1464. It was formerly used to produce flour and press walnuts. The restored Moulin de Mandy is open to visitors.

The Musée du Vivarais Protestant is housed in a fortified 15th-century building classified as a historic monument. The museum in Bouschet de Pranles traces the long and painful history of Catholics and Protestants in the region. It can be visited with a guide or independently.

The signposted Chemin des trois sites connects the Musée du Vivarais Protestant, the Romanesque church and the Moulin de Mandy. Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Pranles is planning a stay in this village.

Nature

The circular hike to the Volcan de Chirouze from the hamlet of Le Clap in Pranles passes basalt columns and a large scree field. The difficult Pranles–Volcan des Chirouses circular hike is 11.4 kilometres long and starts at the small car park at Le Clap.

Along the Pranles–Volcan des Chirouses route, information panels explain the basalt site and its geological formation. The Pranles–Volcan des Chirouses route passes through the Vallée de l'Eyrieux et ses affluents Natura 2000 site.

The section of the Route des Dragonnades near Pranles follows rural paths through an agricultural landscape and offers views of the foothills of the Vercors.

History

Visible anthropomorphic graves have been preserved at the Rocher des Pendus in Pranles. The graves at the Rocher des Pendus lie within an old cemetery that predates the medieval necropolis near the church.

The schematic rock shelters at Serre du Puy are considered evidence of very early pastoral use.

The Route des Dragonnades was built during the reign of Louis XIV to better control the Protestant population of the Boutières; its second stage covers the village of Pranles and the Musée du Vivarais Protestant. The second stage of the Route des Dragonnades covers the Musée du Vivarais Protestant and the village of Pranles, as well as other sites associated with the Wars of Religion in the Boutières.

Other places: Chandolas, Lablachère, Accons, Charnas, Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Vagnas, Grospierres, Saint-Christol.

To the main travel overview: Ardèche.