There is, in our territory, a particular way of experiencing time. Not the kind that passes quickly — the other kind. The kind that settles into stone, into inner courtyards, into the evening light on an ancient wall. Château de la Rochetière is one expression of this. Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye is another, older still.

Twenty minutes from your suite, the village is waiting.

Château de la Rochetière, the perfect starting point

To pass through the gates of Château de la Rochetière is to enter a different rhythm. The centuries-old trees of the park, the stone façades, the inhabited silence of the estate — everything invites you to slow down, to unpack differently than you would in a hotel. Our three suites — Les Ors du Château, L'Alcôve de la Comtesse, and La Suite des Marquis et Marquises — each offer a singular setting, at once elegant and warm, where you feel welcomed rather than simply accommodated.

It is also, as it has always been, an ideal base from which to explore one of the richest regions in Isère for heritage and nature. And twenty minutes from here, one of the most beautiful villages in France opens its doors to you.

A village chosen by the French themselves

The only village in the Isère département to carry the label "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" (Most Beautiful Villages of France), Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye is a medieval gem nestled between the Vercors massif and the hills of Chambaran. In 2025, it received an additional distinction: France's Favourite Village, acclaimed for its unspoiled authenticity and exceptional heritage.

This is not a museum village frozen behind glass. It is a place that lives, welcomes, and tells stories — much like what we strive to do at Château de la Rochetière.

A thousand years of history, to read like an open book

The history of the site begins around 1070, when the relics of Saint Anthony arrived in the Dauphiné and were placed at La Motte-aux-Bois, the future Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye. This transfer changed everything: it drew the faithful, gave rise to a sanctuary, and lent the place a renown that quickly spread far beyond the local area.

On the road between Geneva and Le Puy-en-Velay, the medieval city became a pilgrimage site in its own right, renowned throughout Europe for its hospitality. Hospitality — perhaps that is the first thread connecting our two houses across the centuries.

The Order of Saint Anthony built one of the finest Gothic churches in the Dauphiné here, between the 13th and 15th centuries. Listed as a Historic Monument as early as 1840, the site has preserved a wealth of heritage: conventual buildings, gatehouse, market hall, alleyways and narrow passages. Every stone here has something to tell — as long as you take the time to listen.

What to see, what to feel

The Abbey Church and its Treasury

It dominates the village and commands attention from the very first glance. Inside, frescoes, woodwork, Aubusson tapestries and a 17th-century organ compose an interior of rare richness. The guided tour reveals the Antonine Treasury: liturgical vestments, medieval surgical instruments, and a breathtaking ivory Christ. Allow at least an hour and a half — and remember to book ahead in July and August, as time slots fill up quickly.

The alleyways and the goulets

Wandering through the streets, you discover hidden passages known as goulets — narrow, half-covered lanes that lead up to the higher part of the village, with its elegant townhouses and mullioned windows. There is something intimate, almost secret about these passageways, something you also find in the corners of the Château: the feeling that every space has a story to share, if only you stop long enough to hear it.

The museum and the medieval garden

Housed in the former novitiate, the museum immerses visitors in monastic life through its permanent exhibitions "Chronicles of an Abbey in the Middle Ages" and "Healing Body and Soul." The medieval garden, laid out in the courtyard of the Grande Écuries, offers a truly sensory journey among medicinal plants and herbs straight from the Hospitallers' pharmacopoeia. An unexpected echo of the aromatic herbs in our own park.

A day designed from the Château

The great advantage of staying with us is the freedom to take your time. No need to rush in the morning to feel you've made the most of the day. After breakfast served at your table in the dining room, or outside overlooking the park and its centuries-old trees, the road to Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye unfolds naturally — twenty minutes through the Isère countryside, past walnut groves and gentle hills.

On site, allow half a day to explore at your own pace: the abbey church, the alleyways, the museum. For lunch, ask us for our favourite addresses before you leave — the best tables are worth seeking out, and we will be delighted to guide you depending on the season.

Then comes the return to the Château. The cool of the pool after a day on the cobbled streets, a drink on the terrace, the light shifting across the park. And in the evening, the comfort of your suite — the four-poster bed of Les Ors du Château, the bathtub of L'Alcôve de la Comtesse, or the generous space of La Suite des Marquis et Marquises — to close a day that will linger long in the memory.

The village through the seasons

In January, the Truffle Festival opens the year; May celebrates rare flowers and plants; July fills the air with words and voices at the Textes en l'Air festival. And every summer, Les Médiévales transform the village into a living theatre where knights, craftsmen and troubadours bring the age of the Antonines back to life.

Each season offers a different version of the village — just as each stay at the Château reveals a different light over the estate. A very good reason to come back.

Practical information

Distance from Château de la Rochetière: approximately 20 minutes by car

Guided tours: April to September, every afternoon except Monday — advance booking recommended in high season

Self-guided visits: year-round, with a free smartphone tour available online

Access: 20 minutes from Romans-sur-Isère, 45 minutes from Grenoble, 1 hour from Valence or Lyon

Our recommendations: addresses, opening times, walking routes — ask us before you set off, we are here for exactly that.

Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye is one of those places we whisper to our guests at Château de la Rochetière, the way you share a well-kept secret. Not just another destination on a list — an experience to be lived from our home, at your own pace, in this corner of Isère that we love to help you discover.

Tempted to stay at the Château and experience this escape for yourself? Book your suite directly on our website — we will take care of the rest.