The rocky headland where the village is found has been enchanting people for years.
In the Middle Ages, ‘Crilo’ was mentioned from 1157. This name, with its Indo-European origins, refers to a rock or a stony place. Crillon was going to have to use its ramparts several times. During the French Revolution, the name of the village, Crillon, seemed too aristocratic and so was changed to ‘Roc Libre’. The village council decided to rename the commune at the end of the 19th century, calling it ‘Crillon-le-Brave’, in honour of Henry IV’s brave companion.
