Château de Tournon

In the Château de Tournon in Tournon-sur-Rhône (Ardèche department), the French heir to the throne, François de France, Dauphin of Viennois and Duke of Brittany, died in 1536. Today it houses a museum and is partially listed as a historical monument.

Traces of a first castle, which was the successor to a watchtower from Gallo-Roman times, date back to the 10th century. They can still be seen to the right of the entrance to the current courtyard of honor. The castle was used by the Kings of France as an overnight stop on their travels. Louis IX stayed here when he set off on the Crusade, Francis I and Henry II stopped in Tournon on their way to the wars in Italy.

Duke Francis III of Brittany, the eldest son of King Francis I and brother of Henry II, died at Tournon Castle on August 10, 1536, after drinking a glass of water. Count Montecuccoli, the Duke's secretary, was accused of having served Emperor Charles V, as various poisons were found during a search of his quarters. Under torture, Montecuccoli confessed to the murder of the Duke. In modern scholarship, however, the theory of death by poisoning is disputed.

In the 16th century, new Renaissance-style living quarters were added next to a chapel, including the buildings that now house a museum. Furthermore, the castle features a reconstructed room of Hélène de Tournon, who died of heartbreak. Pierre de Ronsard, who witnessed this as a twelve-year-old page, later wrote his Ode à Hélène for her.