Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux

St Paul Trois Chateaux hosts festivals all year round and some have an international audience.

In January, the youth book fair attracts young readers form the whole south-east of France and is considered one of the major events in France for children books.

In April, the Guitar Biennale invites the biggest names of the instrument in its classical form. For each edition, a composer is asked to produce a work, adding to the event’s worldwide reputation.

In May, the town turns into a Polynesian community with crafts and food from the islands and traditional tattooists.

Jazz stars in the summer with two festivals, Soul Jazz in July, paying homage to soul music and funk, and one of the rare events in Europe dedicated to theses styles. In August, Parfum de Jazz, with gigs in several cities in Drome, is more versatile.

The October film festival bravely defends innovative and independent cinema. Selected films must deal with the theme “people and cultures” while a competition of short films is also organised.  

Where are the three castles  ?

Dungeon and moat lovers will be disappointed – there are no castles in St Paul Trois Chateaux. The name of the city and of the region comes from the Gaul tribe of the Tricastini. Only later, local historians wrongly concluded that the name might derive from the Latin Tricastinorum, meaning three castles.