We were considering this beautiful area to explore, but don't know how isolated it is, and if the time spent getting there would be too precious from our base in Avignon. We are kicking around different homebases in the Luberon as well, but wondered if anyone on ST knows anything about this area north of Orange.
Thanks to all of you for wonderful suggestions!
Peggy

I'm always amaze dwhen someone posts about getting from one place to another. It's so easy UNTIL-you are on the road. You must notice you want to go to the nearest city listed, not your village.

Peggy - take a look at Doug Phillip's trip report on his time in Drome. He has links at the end including a photo album of the village. He returned the next year also. He also visited the Luberon on the second trip. I remember several other members also mentioning this area. It sounds beautiful.

How many days are you planning on spending in this area?

Hi Peggy,

Grigan is right near where I live, and I can tell you that it is a beautiful area. The village itself is quite impressive, with its climbing ramparts,château, history of Mme. de SEvigné, and the vast lavendar fields.
Less than 30 min away you have:
- Nyons (best known for the AOC olives),
- Mirabel-aux-Baronnies (beautiful old village, also have the best olive oil in the world at Le Vieux Moulin),
- Vaison-la-Romaine (amazing Roman town),
- Mirmande (beautiful hilltop village),
- Cliousclat (fabulous pottery),
- Le Poet Laval (one of the most beautiful villages in France).

I hope this gives you some ideas!!

Jeni

This is kind of irrelevant, but when I lived in Urbana IL back in the early 1970s, I sublet an apartment from a woman who came from Grignan and was going to spend the summer there with her parents. I asked her if there was a phone number where I could reach her if necessary. She said just to call the post office in Grignan and somebody would come to her parents' house to get them to come take the call. I thought that was pretty charming.

Peggy:

Although I don't live there, I'm very familiar with the area. We have stayed between Nyons and Mirabel-aux-Baronnies many times and absolutely love La Drome Provencal. Jeni is correct about all the nearby villages. Nyons' Thursday market is one of the nicest in the area.

I'm just wondering why you hit on Grignan, since you'll be based in Avignon? The chateau is worth a quick visit, but there isn't much there now (it's famous for being the home of Madame de Seivgne's daughter). Would you be staying in the village? Personally, I think small villages like Seguret and Sablet are more picturesque and are closer to Avignon.

Having said that, I'm deeply in love with the whole area and you couldn't go wrong.

Joan

P.S. What time of year will you be there?

quote:

Mirmande

I stayed in this b&b right outside the village of Mirmande.
Both the village and the b&b are wonderful. also not far from Poët-Laval plus all the lovely Ardèche villages.