The hill of Crussol has been occupied since
Roman times. Initially, it was the site of a temple, which was subsequently extended with a fortified building to the south in the course of the 5th century, but was abandoned in later centuries for the present site. The first
fort, probably built in the 10th century, was made of wood and was destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century, by a lord named Gerald Basset, in order to control the existing transportation route along the
Rhône River. At the end of the 15th century, the
Crussols were linked by marriage to the
Uzès. The castle was abandoned for the more comfortable
Château d'Uzès. During the
Religious Wars, the castle was taken and set afire on several occasions by various warlords. It was finally sacked in the 17th century. On September 3, 1855, a mine explosion in the quarry under the castle destroyed part of the building. Lightning further destroyed part of the keep in 1952. The site was classified as an
official historical monument of France () in 1927. The
commune of
Guilherand-Granges bought the ruins in 1984, even though the site is technically within the boundaries of the
commune of
Saint-Péray. The inter-communal syndicate of these two communes and
Soyons are jointly engaged in the restoration of the castle. == See also ==