Parcours Balade dans le Centre Ancien de Romans

New! Come and discover the Maison du Mouton, one of the oldest residences in Romans, now a Maison du patrimoine! A free space open to all, inviting you to discover the heritage of the Isère Valley and the Drôme des Collines.History Located in the first urban core of the city, the Maison du Mouton is one of the oldest buildings in Romans. On the street and on the courtyard, its two Gothic facades are indeed dated from the end of the 13th or the beginning of the 14th century. Ashlar stones, painted decorations, extent of the spaces indicate that it belonged to a well-off family. The woolen cloth trade then made the fortune of the city: perhaps one should see in it the explanation of its name. A sheep’s head has adorned the facade since its origin. Very deteriorated, it was returned during major restoration works carried out between 2020 and 2024. The stone used probably comes from the molasses quarries located in Châteauneuf-sur-Isère. These quarries, about fifteen kilometers apart, were exploited from antiquity to the 19th century. Once extracted, the molasse, fine stoneware and easy to cut, circulated by river, both towards Romans and towards Valencia. For the framework and intermediate floors, softwood was mainly used. Beautiful medieval house abandoned during the 20th century, the Maison du Mouton was acquired by the City of Romans in 2020. Open to the public after restoration since 2025, it now houses one of the two sites of the Heritage House of the Land of Art and History of Valence Romans Agglo. The public there discovers the history and architectural heritage of Romans and the Drôme des collines. In Valence, the visitor can continue his visit at the Maison des Têtes, second site dedicated to local heritage. Originally, the ground floor had a commercial or artisanal vocation. The large bays being closed by wooden shutters, the light came from square-shaped light cannons, drilled into the masonry and located high up. The French oak ceiling was restored during the restoration work. It is through this space that the public enters the Heritage House today. An educational workshop also welcomes teachers and their classes. The rear facade of the house is remarkably preserved in its 14th century state. Under the modern staircase, the original straight staircase has been partially preserved. It gave access to the floors from the outside, from the courtyard. The frame of a well is also visible in the masonry. At the back of the house, a building was erected in the 15th or 16th century. This outbuilding could have served as an annex for residential and service uses. Upstairs, a majestic room nearly six meters high corresponds to the aula of the medieval house. Both a reception room and a space for private use, it was the heart of the residence. Heated by an imposing chimney now disappeared, the hall was lit by two tall gothic bays, geminate and trilobed. In front of them, there are seat cushions. These benches arranged in the window recess served as seats. The second floor was able to house the housing of the servants and storage spaces. The offices of the Heritage-Country service for art and history are now located there. Archaeological excavations have unearthed numerous traces of painted decorations, which reveal a pronounced medieval taste for color and geometric patterns. In the aula, a decoration dated from the 14th century, composed of yellow squares on a red background and white borders, was discovered during the work. It has been preserved in situ. In this same room, a decor from the Hôtel de Loulle presents a frieze of coats of arms decorated with plant motifs, in shades of black, red, yellow and blue. The quality of these paintings indicates that high-ranking families occupied the houses in the neighborhood. On the second floor, a simpler decoration, imitating an apparatus of stones, was also discovered. It covered the entire space, in a common approach to many buildings of the same period.

Au Moyen Âge, la rue Pêcherie, qui mène à la collégiale, était une des rues principales de Romans. Son nom est lié à la situation géographique de la rue, en accès direct à l’Isère avant l’aménagement des quais au XIXe siècle.Elle était alors habitée par les familles de notables romanais, dont les immeubles de style Renaissance et et du XVIIIème siècle, rappellent la richesse. Profitant des sources qui fusaient dans les environs de la Collégiale, les chanoines firent établir des viviers à poissons, sur l'emplacement actuel de la fontaine du Puits -du-Cheval, pour alimenter leur table pendant les jours maigres et Carême. Les viviers et les sources furent comblés vers 1850, le nom "Rue Pêcherie" en est la mémoire. À l’angle de la rue d’Ambézieux : hôtel particulier Renaissance avec fenêtres à meneaux. N°33 : belle maison du XVe siècle avec encorbellement au 1er étage, édifiée en pierres locales (molasse pour les parties basses et tuf pour l’étage). Les quais de l’Isère n'ont été construits que dans les années 1860. Aujourd'hui de nombreux artisans d'art sont installés rue Pêcherie (le 2 du document "Parcours Romans du Moyen Age au XXIème siècle" correspond au D du Plan découverte de romans)

The first mention of this bridge in the archives dates back to 1033. As you walk along the quays of the Isère, built in 1860, the Pont Vieux (Old Bridge) comes into view.This bridge enabled the Canons of Saint-Barnard to establish tolls on people, animals and merchandise, which became an important source of revenue. It was not long before the first hamlet on the south bank of the bridge was appropriately named "Le Bourg du Péage", later to become BOURG DE PEAGE. A fortified gate defending the bridge was built in 1393...and demolished in the early 19th century. This fortified gate appears on the town's coat of arms. Before the river's course was regulated by dams, the bridge was repeatedly damaged by the Isère's violent floods. Repeatedly washed away and rebuilt over the centuries, the Pont Vieux was caught up in the turmoil of the Second World War and partly destroyed, first in June 1940 and then again in August 1944!

This monastery founded in 838 by Barnard, archbishop of Vienne, is at the origin of the city of Romans. Marriage of Romanesque and Gothic style, it houses a pure jewel: the Nine embroidered hangings representing the Passion of Christ (visit in season and on a guided tour)Transformed into a collegiate church around 935, the church was several times destroyed and rebuilt during the medieval period. Its classification as a Historic Monument in 1840 testifies to its importance in terms of history and art history. Western facade The western entrance of the church is decorated with Romanesque sculptures of southern inspiration that represent apostles. To the right of the entrance, one thus recognizes Saint John with a book at his feet. On the left, one can guess the word 'PETRUS' on a phylactery: it is about Saint Peter. The other sculptures could represent Saint Paul and Saint James the Greater. The four characters are surrounded by lions, colonnettes and capitals with rich vegetal decoration evoking antiquity. Mutilated during the French Revolution, the ensemble was also completely overhauled at an undetermined time. Nef The nave is composed of elements from several eras. Dating from the 11th century, the lower parts are the oldest of the building. The nave is raised in the 13th century century, embellished with a triforium (high gallery) and covered with an ogive cross vault. Triforium and the vaults, destroyed in 1567 during the Wars of Religion, are rebuilt identically at the end of the following century. On the north side, we notice historiated capitals from the Romanesque era representing biblical scenes (Visitation, last judgment) and fantastic animals. On both sides of the nave, chapels were founded and decorated between the 15th and 19th centuries. The large sacristy serves as a setting for superb 18th century walnut woodwork and many sacred art objects. On the organ gallery built in 1720, there is an organ signed by Facteur Chambry* and installed in 1843. It is undoubtedly the 4th or 5th organ successively present in the building. Above the organ, stained-glass windows installed in 2000, designed by the artist Georg Ettl and created by the Thomas workshops deliver a modern vision of the Apocalypse of Saint John. *An organ builder is a craftsman specialized in making organs Choir and transept The choir and transept are erected from 1238 in a Gothic style, by decision of Jean de Bernin, archbishop of Vienne, known for his action as a builder. The decor exceptional which is found today in the choir is dated from 1330-1350. It was indeed on this date that the Dauphin Humbert II, also a canon of Saint-Barnard, ceded the Dauphiné to the crown of France, during a ceremony held in Romans in 1349. In this teeming decor, we indeed recognize fleurs-de-lis and crowned figures but also angels on a crenellated walkway and vegetal and geometric patterns. In the two arms of the transept, many traces of paint come from decorations made successively from the 13th to the 19th century Temporary exhibitions and concerts take place several times a year in this building. Possibilities of guided tours for groups or individuals. In summer: exceptional opening of the sacristy and the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament (to see the hangings) from Tuesday to Friday as well as on Sundays!

As early as the Middle Ages, a town grew up around the collegiate church. The central square of the medieval town, through which the road from Grenoble to Valence passed for centuries...Since the 10th century, the square has hosted the Sunday market, which remains an essential event in Romanesque life. N°11: Sablière hotel, facade marked by the Renaissance (turret) and the 18th century (high windows). Impasse Saint-Jean (between n°11 and n°13): door of the collegiate church, southern Romanesque style with gear tooth arch.

The presence of a market in herbs and medicinal plants in medieval times explains the name of this place.You can see a mansion built there in the 10th century by the Clérieu family, with the aim of imposing its protection on the monastery of Saint-Barnard. In 1360, a monetary workshop set up there for two centuries. In the 15th century, a fortified door fitted with machicolations reinforced the security of the building. The monogram which surmounts the door is formed by the initials of Marius Charvin, owner of the premises between 1875 and 1900.

Rue Médiévale avec pavés en têtes de chat. Sur les murs à gauche, en venant de la Place aux Herbes, on peut voir les traces laissées par le moyeux de roues de charrettes qui ont creusé la mollasse.Au n°2 rue des Trois Carreaux, se trouve la tour des Poitiers, érigée aux Xe et XIe siècles. Au sommet, d’anciens créneaux ont été transformés en fenêtres. Cette rue médiévale débouche sur d'autres rues médiévales que sont la rue Merlin et la rue des Clercs. À l’Angle de la rue Merlin et de la rue des Clercs : Maison à Échauguette.

Le quartier Saint-Nicolas se développe au Moyen Âge entre les deux enceintes des XIIe et XIVe siècles. Il est ainsi le fruit du premier accroissement urbain.Quartier populaire dès son origine, il accueille également au XIXe siècle les familles d’ouvriers de la chaussure, puis, au siècle suivant, une main d’œuvre italienne et des familles arméniennes rescapées du génocide.

Maison du XVIème dont l'un des Premiers Propriétaires fut Claude Thomé, Notable Romanais, Juge de la Ville de Romans, puis Consul. Il accueillit le Roi François Ier lors de sa Visite à Romans en 1533. Accessible lors de Visites GuidéesMaison qui présente une Façade Renaissance, dont les 2 étages sont ornés de Fenêtres Jumelles à Meneaux. Le Rez-de-Chaussée est rythmé par 4 Arcs Boutiques. La Porte s'ouvre sur une Galerie couverte d'une Voûte renforcée par des Nervures en mollasse. Chacune repose sur des "culots" richement ornés de sirène, anges, sanglier... Cette Galerie donne accès à une petite cour intérieure. Dans un angle, une tourelle à 4 étages de style Gothique Flamboyant, éclairée par des fenêtres à meneaux. (Le 9 du document "Parcours Romans sur Isère du Moyen Age au XXIème siècle" correspond au K du plan découverte de Romans)

Le Nom de la Rue vient du latin "Armilla", qui rappelle la présence de bijoutiers et de joailliers dans cette rue. Au n°18 hôtel particulier Servan-Nugues, 17-18ème s., à la façade animée d'arcatures en plein cintre et d'un décor en pointe de diamants.Au n°25 maison commune du 14ème s., 1er Hôtel de Ville de Romans. On pouvait y lire la devise de la ville : "Par ses bonnes coutumes et par ses bons citoyens, Romans se gouverne".