La Garde-Adhémar - Saint-Michel

In medieval times La Garde-Adhémar was the home of the "House of Adhémar". Built in a rocky ridge, overlooking the valley of the Rhone, it is one of the "the most beautiful villages of France" ("Les Plus Beaux Villages de France") today. When the "House of Adhémar" had castle here within the 10th century, Saint-Michel was the "chapel" of that castle. Since the 12th century, when the present church was built, this was a parish church, depending from the famous Benedictine abbey in Tournus ("St. Philibert"). Seen here are the three eastern apses, but this church has four apses! The fourth one (not to be seen from here) is western - and serves as the portal.

The church was in very bad condition after the French Revolution, when Prosper Mérimée visited the place. Renovations started already in 1849.

"Notre Dame de Bon Secours" resembles statues from the Auvergne from the 11th/12th century. For centuries times the statue was venerated in the church of the Cistercian Aiguebelle Abbey (12kms east). Hidden, when iconoclastic revolutionists vandalized the abbey, the statue was found again much later and now can be seen (behind thick glass) in La Garde-Adhémar.