Alba-the-Roman

Alba-the-Roman is a common French, located in the department of the Ardèche and the area the Rhone-Alps.

Geography

Located between Aubenas and Montélimar, one can discover there vestiges of the Roman city and a medieval borough.

History

The city of Alba-the-Roman was founded under the Roman Empire; she then bore the name of “Alba Helviorum”. She was the capital of Helviens and was episcopal see in the current of IVe century.

The Middle Ages until 1904, it bore the name of Aps (family of local owners).

The current denomination was officialized by decree of May 30th, 1986 (published with the Official journal on June 5th, 1986), and took effect the June 6th 1986. The preceding denomination was Alba .

Administration

Demography

Tourist monuments and places

The village is classified at the “more beautiful villages of France”; to see here.

Roman Vestiges. The antique quoted extended on 30 hectares. One can visit the monumental ancient theater with his " area sacra" , of the temples and an imperial sanctuary. The course of visit includes/understands the house of the excavations and spectacles to the ancient theater.
the Château of Alba (XIIe-XVIe century) had a military, residential function of prestige. It is classified with the inventory of the historic buildings and is opened with the public (exposures, animations).

Personalities related to the commune

Following the Call of André Lhote in the newspaper of September 15th 1948 Fights, many foreign artists and personalities settle and rebuild Alba-the-Roman. Come artists with Alba: Jean Bertholle, Jean Moal, Etienne Hajdu, Eudaldo, Stanley Hayter, Helen Philips, Honorio Garcia Condoy, Laszlo Szabo, Alejandro Obregon, Ginés Parra, Jose Palmeiro, Theodore Appleby, Hope Manchester, Roger Weiss, Stalemate Sanderson White, Roland de Laforcade, Thomas Nix, Kees Van Willigen, Berndt Helleberg, Elisabeth Guggenheim, Alice Braun.

Economy

Agricultural production: wine.

" In Alba Helvienne of the province of Narbonnese, a vine was invented losing its flower in one day and for this reason very robust. It is called Carbunica and maintaining all the province the plante". Thus was expressed Pline the Old one into 65 of our era, by the way probably of table grapes, but this text at that time attests presence of the vine in Helvie.

The soil: The vineyard is cultivated on the southern slope of Coiron, the slopes of the Juliau mount and banks of Escoutay. On the territory of the Cooperative wine cave of Alba, a work of cartography made it possible to identify various soils of which " the gravette" , fall of stones limestones and Basalts, black cotton soils of volcanic origin. From a Mediterranean climate, the vineyard profits from a strong sunning garenti by the freshness of the mistral.

The vine: The white are composed of Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon, Grenache… the reds of Pinot, Syrah, black Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon… the harvest of these various type of vines spreads out on 4 to 5 weeks, of at the end of August at the beginning of October. The vine growers are engaged in a step of reasoned production, respectful of the environment…

Wednesday of August July a guided visit " under the vines a antique" city; combine modern vine growing and antique under the direction of Thomas Vaillant (responsible Caveau) and them guides elected by the General advice at which belongs the site…

External bonds

http://www.alba-la-romaine.fr/

http://caveau.alba.free.fr/

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