The best city hikes and walks in Drôme

All amenities, the station district is not dreamy but the pedestrian center is close

Montélimar's market square exudes Provençal flair with its colorful cafés and small boutiques. Surrounded by historic houses dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, the town's long history is palpable. It's bustling with life, especially on market days with regional specialties like the famous nougat.

The Château des Adhémar in Montélimar is a stunning example of medieval architecture and a significant landmark in the Drôme region. Originally built in the 11th century by the Counts of Toulouse, it was expanded into a magnificent palace by the Adhémar family in the 12th century. Over the centuries, it has served as a fortress, citadel, and prison. Today, it is a publicly accessible monument historique and offers a fascinating insight into the region's history. Visitors can admire the well-preserved Romanesque architectural features and enjoy the breathtaking views from the battlements.

The Saint-Martin Gate in Montélimar is an impressive 14th-century relic that was once part of the city's fortifications. Its robust medieval architecture invites you to take a stroll through the old town. From here, you can explore charming alleyways and historic houses. The view of the gate and the old city walls offers particularly photo opportunities.

The church furnishings are exceptionally rich for the Drôme region. It houses the mausoleum of the local heroine Philis de La Charce, the dauphinoise who took military leadership in the 17th century. The church also contains a magnificent carved wood altar from the former monastery of Saint-Cézaire, a statue of the Madonna above the main entrance, and a painting of the Nativity from the Italian school, attributed to Ribera; the replica of this is in the Louvre.

Beautiful little streets in the old town of Valence.

The organ of the Church of St. Vincent in Nyons is an unusual instrument whose development has seen many twists and turns. Purchased for 6,000 francs in 1823 from a private individual, a doctor in Bollène, the organ underwent its first restoration in 1858. Over time, restorations continued, often accompanied by modifications or the addition of stops. In 1965, the Parish Committee of St. Césaire decided to undertake the renovation and called upon organ builder Philippe Hartmann (1928-2014), recognized as a genius of sound. In 2005, the organ was overhauled by organ builder Jean David, and in 2008, a final, summary restoration was carried out by Mr. Sals. The current instrument, completed in 1971, is typical of organ building of the 1960s and 1980s and embodies the new principles of neo-Baroque organ building, in addition to its distinctive, luminous timbres and original harmony, Hartmann's trademark. "The Nyons organ was an opportunity for Hartmann to express his genius for sound; neither Nordic nor Mediterranean, it is a work of creation," relates Michel Beaulieu, organist and present during the construction in 1971. The 13 registers, comprising 916 tin and wood pipes, are distributed over two manuals and a pedalboard. The buff, a box-type organ, is in keeping with the architecture of the period. Entirely mechanical, the instrument has a relatively modest composition. After several decades of use, it became imperative to undertake the work of restoring the organ. As early as 2015, Dominique Joubert, organist at Val'encens Cathedral, warned of the need to renovate this instrument while preserving all of its distinctive features. According to him, "Despite its dilapidated condition, it remains impressive to listen to. The cohesion and perfect harmony of the timbres, the truthfulness of each individual timbre or combination, is particularly beautiful, meticulous, and incredible." In 2016, under the leadership of the Association of Friends of the Organ and the Parish of St. Vincent, in collaboration with the municipality of Nyons, it was decided to launch a campaign to renovate the organ and to make this ensemble homogeneous and harmonious, while fully respecting the spirit of the organ builder Hartmann.

The location of a church in this part of the town dates back to the emergence of Christianity in the Eygues Valley. Destroyed three times over the centuries, the current church dates from 1614. It consists of a single nave bordered by ten side chapels. This church contains numerous treasures: the mausoleum of the Dauphiné heroine Philis de la Charce, the carved wooden altar from the former monastery of Saint Cézaire, the statue of the Virgin Mary located above the entrance door, and the Italian school painting of the Nativity, attributed to Ribera, a replica of which is in the Louvre. The Church of Saint-Vincent in Nyons is mentioned as early as the end of the 10th century. However, the current building was rebuilt during the first half of the 17th century, after the destruction caused by the Wars of Religion. Its wide nave retains a Romanesque appearance. In 2009 and 2010, the church underwent a complete renovation, which included the restructuring and expansion of the sacristy, restoration of the vaults and paintings, the creation of a small exhibition room, asbestos removal from the boiler room, repairs to the roofs and facades, and replacement of the interior and exterior lighting. The interior work and the restoration of the paintings were carried out by the municipality, in collaboration with the ABF (Architect of Buildings of France) and the Sacred Arts Commission. Several remarkable paintings are preserved in the Church of St. Vincent and are regularly restored. They date from the first half of the 17th century: They came from a former Recollect convent (now the Temple): • two works attributed to painters from Velay, Jean and Guy François, inspired by Caravaggio (The Adoration of the Shepherds and Saint Bonaventure); • a painting by Guillaume Perrier, brother of François Perrier, The Two Families of Christ; • four paintings by a painter from the first half of the 17th century, inspired in particular by the Venetian school (The Burial of Christ, Christ with Martha and Mary, Christ and Mary Magdalene, as well as an Ecce Homo). The altar tabernacle of the Saint-Joseph chapel is the work of a sculptor from Rouen, Pascal Jouvenet, who was a Recollect monk in Nyons and who created tabernacles for other Recollect convents (chapel of the local hospital in Bourg-Saint-Andéol, church in Montferrand). More than fifteen paintings displayed in the church are listed as historic monuments.