Dome

View from the terrace; Construction on the site of Grignan's present castle was originally begun in the 12th century, but it wasn't until the 13th century that the Adhémar family expanded it into a mighty fortress. Louis Adhemar, governor of Provence, remodelled the medieval castle from 1545 to 1558. In the 1600s, François Adhémar de Monteil transformed the fortress into a luxurious residence. From 1668 to 1690, Francois de Castellane-Adhemar turned it into a sumptuous Renaissance palace. Reduced to ruins in 1773, it was reconstructed in the early 1900s by Madame Fontaine who spent her entire fortune to restore the castle to its former grandeur. Located under the castle terrace, the collegiate church was constructed between 1535 and 1539 at the request of Louis Adhémar. The Renaissance façade is flanked by two square towers and a beautiful Gothic rose window. Inside is an impressive 17th century altar and organ loft. On the floor in front of the altar is a marble funerary stone marking the sealed entrance to the tomb of Madame de Sévigné. Presently, the castle belongs to the Drôme département and is a major tourist attraction. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 7/15/2008)