>>> 🐧NEW ONE WBA 2026 🐧 <<< 14DA/CF26035 – Castle of Montchenu by 14DA001 Stéphane / 3 PTS (H)/5 PTS (A) / DATE: 06 april 2026 start @ 10.00 UTC / Freq. stay tuned on WhatsApp WBA DA-RC News / DÉPARTEMENT 26 ( Drôme )/ Municipality 26298 ( Saint-Christophe-et-le-Laris) (Cod.INSEE)
ANT: Skipper 3 EL. / PW 300W – PTS(A):2COTA+1N.ONE+1QSO+1CONTINENTS=7
🏰 WBA – World Beauties Award: Mission Montchenu 🏰
📡 Reference: 14DA/CF26035 📡
Radio enthusiasts and history buffs, get your gear ready! The WBA (World Beauties Award) team is proud to announce an unprecedented event. For the very first time, radio waves will surround the centuries-old walls of one of the Drôme’s hidden treasures: the Castle of Montchenu.
🎙️ A Historic Activation: “On Air” for the First Time!
This is not just any activation; it is an absolute debut. we will be “First Time in Air” from the immediate vicinity of this legendary site, bringing the voice of Montchenu to the HF frequencies, with a special focus on the 11-meter band!
- Operator on site: 14DA001 Stéphane 🇫🇷
- Setup: A portable station set up in the shadow of the castle towers to ensure maximum signal strength and the authentic charm of outdoor operations.
🏛️ Why Montchenu? The Link Between Radio and History
Activating the Castle of Montchenu means making the history of Marin de Montchenu—the imposing ambassador of Francis I—resonate through modern technology. - A Unique Interaction: Just as Marin connected the French court with the rest of Europe during the Renaissance, our station 14DA/CF26035 will connect this historic site to the entire world via the ionosphere.
- Stone and Frequency: The solidity of the 15th-century circular towers meets the ethereal nature of radio waves. Broadcasting from here honors the memory of a rural fortress that has stood the test of time, sharing its beauty today through your signal reports.
🌍 Follow the Event Live!
Don’t miss the chance to log this extremely rare World Beauties Award reference. The proximity of our station to the site will ensure an immersive experience, making every QSO feel like a step inside the walls of this magnificent protected historical monument.
🔗 Check contacts in real-time: https://sbota.org/wba-live-log-14-france/ 📈
✨ WBA: Enhancing the world’s beauty, one QSO at a time. ✨
73’s to all DXers, we look forward to seeing you “on the air” to write this new chapter of radio history together! 🏁🎧
The Château de Montchenu: A Renaissance Gem in the Drôme
The Château de Montchenu is a historical pearl located in the commune of Saint-Christophe-et-le-Laris, in the Drôme department (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region). Far from the grandiose fairy-tale palaces of the Loire Valley, it is a rural fortress that perfectly embodies the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
1. Architecture and Structure
The castle stands as an imposing stone edifice, featuring a quadrangular layout typical of the fortified manor houses of the region.
- Towers: It boasts high circular towers at its corners, which served both for defense and as a symbol of the family’s prestige.
- Façade: Despite its medieval origins, the castle underwent significant remodeling during the 15th and 16th centuries. These changes refined its exterior, introducing larger windows to allow more light into the interior—a hallmark of the Renaissance style.
2. History and the Montchenu Family
The castle is inextricably linked to the Montchenu family, one of the most influential lineages in the area during the 15th century.
- The most famous figure associated with this site is Marin de Montchenu, who served as King Francis I’s Master of the Household and as a diplomat.
- Legend has it that Marin was a man of such massive physical stature that he required furniture and architectural spaces custom-tailored to his size, contributing to the castle’s almost mythological aura.
3. Current Status and Significance
Today, the castle is a private property, which preserves its intimate atmosphere, away from the typical crowded tourist circuits.
- Conservation: It is classified as an Inscrit aux Monuments Historiques (a protected Historical Monument), ensuring the preservation of its original architecture.
- Atmosphere: Perched in a panoramic position within the Drôme des Collines, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valley, where the silence of the French countryside remains undisturbed.
In Summary
Imagine an austere fortress of light-colored stone immersed in greenery, where the silence is broken only by the wind. It is a place that tells the story of the French minor nobility—a tale of diplomatic careers at court and the diligent management of local lands.
Are you in the Log? Click below.
| LOG |
| 1AT227 Livio 14FR1 Jo 1TW25 Claudio 13SD114 Matt 165DA101 Alessandro 1AT562 Antonio 1GIR198 Diego 14AT47 Yohann 13DA16 Mike 153AT102 Fred 153AT777 Jan 43DA21 Brian 14EK114 Jean Claude 13DA285 Tommy 47DX54 Leif 30DA10 Sergio 14RA41 Chris 14AT292 Bernard 13AT715 Pete 14GT44 Pierrot 14FDX449 Greg 14RC320 Pierre 1AT127 Luciano 47PL122 Arne 14AT317 Bernard 14DA20 Pascal 56DX113 Panu 153DA102 Lars 14DA59 Jack 14SD150 Alain 56SD106 Ville 19AT515 Ron 14AT114 Allan 14DA27 Thierry 35DA35 Frank 14AT145 Philippe 14AT29 Thierry 14AT661 Gerard 14AT484 Steven 16AT128 Stephane 1RC118 Vittorio 14AT824 Philippe 1EK156 Mauro 43AR135 Jae 14KP251 Jean Louis 13OP20 Martin 1AT771 Marco 14AT23 Jean Marc 14EK154 Daniel 14AT259 Allan 14AT201 Farid 14AT461 Ludo 14EK11 Jack 161DA135 Sylvester 1DA6 Sergio 1PC74 Mattia 1DA1 Gaetano 14AT134 Gabriel 14DA21 Phil 14TW310 Cedric 14AT143 Fabrice 14AT16 Bruno 14AT264 Pat 14RC52 Ludo 341/43DA1 13OT1 Mario 91AT109 Agus 1AT1692 Willi 108AT46 Jim 14RC980 Jeff 3KPI1 Fernando 3AT303 Renato 34VAG379 Victor 14AT371 Michel 34ASM78 Ayoze 29AT38 Tim 3DA19 Louis 14SD217 Yannick 34AT192 Nando 34AT116 Belen 68AT142 Paul 14AT75 Georgette 14AT38 Bruno 14AT219 Alain 14AT149 Yannick 68AT108 Richard 26AT352 Paul 14DA70 Franck 1AT682 Giuliano 14AT832 Christian 34RC24 Cristo 68AT121 Robert 14DA181 Marc 4AT109 Dani 26SW37 Adi 20EK20 Frank 14GT54 GГ©rald 34DA10 Saul 14DA44 HervГ© 14VD469 Yannick 14DA64 Bruno 24EK11 Gregorio 14DA496 Marino ———————————————- 1AT227 14FR001 1TW025 13SD114 165DA101 1AT562 1GIR198 14AT047 13DA016 153AT102 153AT777 43DA021 14EK114 13DA285 47DX054 30DA010 14RA041 14AT292 13AT715 14GT044 14FDX449 14RC320 1AT127 47PL122 14AT317 14DA020 56DX113 153DA102 14DA059 14SD150 56SD106 19AT515 14AT114 14DA027 35DA035 14AT145 14AT029 14AT661 14AT484 16AT128 1RC118 14AT824 1EK156 43AR135 14KP251 13OP020 1AT771 14AT023 14EK154 14AT259 14AT201 14AT461 14EK011 161DA135 1DA006 1PC074 1DA001 14AT134 14DA021 14TW310 14AT143 14AT016 14AT264 14RC052 341/43DA1 13OT001 91AT109 1AT1692 108AT046 14RC980 3KPI001 3AT303 34VAG379 14AT371 34ASM078 29AT038 3DA019 14SD217 34AT192 34AT116 68AT142 14AT075 14AT038 14AT219 14AT149 68AT108 26AT352 14DA070 1AT682 14AT832 34RC024 68AT121 14DA181 4AT109 26SW037 20EK020 14GT054 34DA010 14DA044 14VD469 14DA064 24EK011 14DA496 |
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