The village of Châteauneuf du Pape is built on a hillside, dominating the Rhône valley, the Venaissin Comtat (the territory for centuries under papal control, now known for its acres and acres of vineyards).
Narrow lanes and flag-stone paved stairways lead up to the vestiges of the castle, atop the hill.

In the 14th century, at the initiative of Pope Jean XXII, Châteauneuf du Pape was chosen as the site of the official summer residence. According to legend the pope chose himself to plant vines in the stony grounds surrounding his property. For a long time, the wine produced from these vines was reserved for the papacy alone. Only from the 18th century did it begin to be more widely known and appreciated. A landmark date for the region is 1936, the year the winemakers requested and received the appellation of controlled origin (AOC) Châteauneuf du Pape. The strict rules of the AOC governs the the wine production from the vineyard to the bottle, permitting the 205 vineyards within the territorial designation of Châteauneuf du Pape to produce wines of exception. The embossed escutcheon of the papal tiara and the keys of Saint-Peter surrounding the inscription "Châteauneuf du Pape controlled" is now recognized worldwide..