Holidays in Drome, Rhone-Alpes, France

Located in the southern part of the Rhone-Alpes region, the department of Drome is home to some intriguing historic buildings, beautiful natural scenery, world-famous candies and international shoe designers. If you're visiting the Drome region on vacation, you're sure to find something that will interest you.

Cheval and Shoes

In the north of the area, you can visit one of the most intriguing 19th century follies in France. Built by a postman at the turn of the century, the Ideal Palace is an impressive example of Outsider Art, copying styles from throughout history such as Gothic, Romanesque, Oriental and Muslim. He had hoped it would be his tomb, but because of a problem with the licence is instead an intriguing tourist attraction.

A little further south is the town of Romans, which is a world-famous centre for designer and luxury shoes, with shops featuring the latest styles and even a museum of over 10,000 exhibits. If you prefer pounding the pavements in the latest fashions, rather than hiking in the mountains, then window-shopping in Romans will be your ideal day out.

Vercors and the Drome Valley

To the east is the Vercors Regional Nature Park, a spectacular region that was used as a hideaway for French resistance fighters during the Second World War. After you've spent the day exploring the caves, cliffs, gorges, waterfalls and forests you'll begin to understand why they were so successful at staying hidden. The best way to explore the Vercors is along the “Grands Goulets” road which offers amazing view points over the countryside and far down into the deep abysses.

The Drome Valley may be less spectacular than the gorges of Vercors, but it still makes for a pleasant drive, hike or bike ride, through beautiful scenery and pretty villages, such as Bourdeaux, balanced on a hilltop with a myriad of narrow streets to explore and Labeaume, at the foot of a gorge by the banks of the Drome River.

Montelimar

The quiet historic city of Montelimar in the south-west of Drome is a typical Provencal town, with twisting narrow streets and pretty squares. Most visitors are more likely to be interested in the sweets that the town is famous for; Montelimar nougat. You can visit the local museum which not only details how the candy has been made over the centuries, but will also give you ample opportunity to buy some sweets of your own, or for your friends back home. Flavoured with typical Provencal ingredients, like honey and lavender from nearby fields, this unusual delicacy has put Montelimar and Drome on the map.



The Author, Phil Hanlon, writes for Holiday Home Rentals who have a selection of Gites in Drome and Villas in France which can be rented direct from their owners.