La Drôme Provençale: A tour with natural beauty & gastronomic delights

While technically part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, La Drôme is the natural start of Provence, rich in natural beauty and gastronomic delights. This often over-looked département understands that travelers want to experience it all, in a fun, interactive way.

• It begins with a trifecta of wine, chocolate, and shoes and ends in a château surrounded by sublime fields of lavender.
• I love nothing more than an area that is a feast for the senses, peppered with some good shopping! La Drôme hits all the marks!
• Lush landscapes with the scent of lavender, thyme, rosemary, sage, and verbena surround picturesque towns and six plus beaux villages .
  On y va?

Wine, Chocolate and Shoes

We begin our tour in Tain-l’Hermitage, situated on the left bank of the Rhône river, and world-renowned for its wines. Maison M Chapoutier, one of the grand masters, has the loveliest tasting room. Start in the vineyards, then taste these famous wines accompanied by the expertise of a sommelier. Want to linger a bit longer? Take an electric bike into the vineyards for stunning views, or even spend the night in their gîte “La Tour du Pavillon”, nestled among the vines.

Our next stop is located three minutes away. Follow the sumptuous aroma of chocolate to the Cité du Chocolat Valrhôna, where sensory experiences are educational, fun, and delicious! You can also participate in a chocolate workshop, which I highly recommend! Our group made truffles (not as easy as it looks) and took home a bag of our creation. If your turn out less than perfect, no worries, the chocolate shop just next door has everything you could ever want!

Two more stops in the area make this area absolute perfection for me.

Thanks to its location near the river and the booming tanning industry, Romans–sur-Isère was the capital of shoe production from 1850 until the 1970s. There are still a few manufacturers today, but the real jewel is the Musée de la Chaussure which chronicles the history of shoes. Style over comfort was the motto of many designers!

Stroll over to the nearby outlet mall to finish out your day of indulgence.

Let’s Eat!

Heading south to join l’autoroute du Soleil ( A7) you will want to make a stop at the prestigious Maison Pic. The incomparable chef Anne-Sophie Pic has created her own haven of gastronomy and luxury near Valance. If her Three Michelin Star Restaurant Pic isn’t quite in the budget, you can still enjoy an exquisite menu at Bistrot André, where she says “The story of my family is written, told, and, above all, tasted.”

If you have time to linger, the Pic Hôtel is a five-star luxury in the most tranquil setting, where the Pic Bar invites you to taste the bartender’s playfully creative creations in the secret garden. If you are inspired to improve your own cooking, her curated boutique “éPICerie” may have just what you need! (Whisky-aged pepper must make everything taste better, right?)

Natural Beauty, plus a bit more wine

When I am exploring an area, I love to find one place to unpack my bags and settle in. When that place is a five-star Château with a Cinq Mondes spa, tant mieux ! (even better) Château Les Oliviers de Salettes is an absolute treasure, surrounded by 31 hectares of rolling hills and fields of lavender. Each of its 29 rooms and suites has a different personality, and each offers stunning views, over one of the two swimming pools, the gardens, or rows of lavender that feel close enough to touch. And in fact, you are invited to do so! The friendly staff will give you scissors and a ribbon to gather your own bouquet to take home. You can also arrange a picnic by the fields. Sublime.

If you can tear yourself away from this idyllic setting, there is much more exploring to be done!

There are five “Plus beaux villages” in the area, each with its own charm.

The fortified castle of Grignan is a must-see. Perched at the highest point in town, it offers views as stunning as the château’s interior.

• Nearby La Garde-Adhémar is best known for its herb garden that received the award of ‘Jardin Remarquable’ in 2006.
• Le Poët-Laval is a picturesque pedestrian-only village with a medieval church, clustered houses, and some remaining walls.
• Montbrun-Les-Bains, backing up a hill and facing Mont Ventoux, is famous for its thermal baths, making it a leading spa resort.
• Finally, Mirmande, featured on the show “Le Village Préféré des Français”, is known for its beautiful roofs and its fruit trees.

Speaking of food, the Thursday market in Nyons is one of the best in the area and has everything from their famous olive oils to clothing and gifts. Plan to spend some time, as the tents are tucked into each corner of town.

As we began our tour of the Drôme with wine, we will end it the same way.

Did you know there is a wine university that you can attend? It is quite fittingly housed in a 12th-century fortified castle. Le Château de Suze-la-Rousse is an imposing structure that is worth a visit in itself. It is here that future sommeliers immerse themselves in their rigorous studies, but you can get a taste of the profession by attending a short workshop. The staff is friendly and makes things easy to understand. We even crafted our own blend of red wine!

Have you ever been to La Drôme? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

Further information on the area can be found here.
Image credits: All photos copyright Traci Parent/Author

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