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Roundtrip Nyons to Nyons passing Montelimar and the Saou Forest
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Catherine De Groote RouteXpert
Last edit: 27-11-2021
Route Summary
Nyons is also called little Nice because of the microclimate that gives the place a Mediterranean atmosphere. Shady squares, cafes with terraces, colonnades with shops, Romanesque bridge over the river Eygues, nothing is missing. An ideal place as a base to explore the Drôme Provençal. The Drôme Provençal has a mild climate and extends from the Southern Alps to the Baronnies and to the Rhône Valley. The region is bordered by the regions of Dauphiné and Provence.

With the castles of Grignan, Montélimar and Rochemaure you get a piece of history and culture on this drive. The forest of Saoû with the steep cliff of La Roche Colombe and Les Trois Becs is home to a varied biodiversity. With the deep gorges of the Pas de Lauzens and the Gorges des Trente Pas, you get some spectacular roads shoved under your wheels. This varied ride with beautiful roads therefore receives 5 stars.
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Verdict
Duration
10h 26m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
218.55 km
Countries
Rochemaure castle
RouteXpert Review
After a detour past Vinsobres, after 26 km you will come across the first gas station in the vicinity of Valréas. You continue along small and quiet lanes through a landscape of lavender, vineyards, pines and oaks to Grignan where a visit to the castle is certainly worthwhile.
The castle, built on a rock, overlooks the village. A witness to Renaissance architecture and French classicism, this building has had an eventful history. The fortified castle of the 11th century was converted during the Renaissance into a prestigious holiday residence. In the 17th century, the Marquise of Sévigné stayed with her daughter Françoise-Marguerite, who had become Countess of Grignan through her marriage. The castle was dismantled during the French Revolution and then rebuilt in the early 20th century. Since 1979, it has belonged to the Drôme Department, which continues its ambitious program of renovations and acquisitions. Listed in 1993, the historic monument offers its visitors valuable testimonies of the art of living during different periods.
From the terraces, you have a breathtaking 360° panorama of Provence and its lavender, Mont Ventoux and the village of Grignan, a remarkable heritage.

When you leave Grignan, keep following the lane on the left until the D4. Tomtom gives a small deviation here.

Réauville, a royal city, so named by the brother of Louis IX. A few centuries later, the village will be the cradle of the family of the President of the Republic Emile Loubet (1899).
Some houses from the 15th century have preserved a remarkable architecture, such as the house 'above the Arc'. On the facade you notice a carved weapon that must have belonged to the abbey of Aiguebelle. The village has a rich history including the house where the Imperial Captain Louis Portalier lived, as well as the house where the first soldier in France, Albert Roche (1895-1939) was born.
Rocher de la Vierge is a unique place. The rock, on which a statue of the Virgin was built in 1856, towers over the village. You have an impressive view of the 14 towns of the canton of Grignan, the mountains of La Lance, Vercors, Ardèche, Mont Ventoux, the Dentelles de Montmirail, the tower of Chamaret and the castle of the Count of Grignan.

Montélimar is also known as the 'Gateway to Provence'. The city is located in the middle of the Rhone Valley. Excavations show that the area around this place was inhabited very early in history. Flints have been excavated that are believed to date back to 50,000 BC. During the time of the Roman Empire, the city was considered very important. This probably had to do with the fact that the city was located on the so-called Via Agrippa. This was a network of Roman roads in Roman Gaul, founded by Agrippa, a Roman general. The Romans expanded the city with several buildings, such as a forum, a temple and several public baths. In addition, aqueducts were built to supply the city with water. Little is known about Montélimar during the Middle Ages. As far as we know, the region around the city has changed hands several times. Today this city is known worldwide as the city of nougat. This delicacy originally comes from this area.

Château des Adhemars is a medieval palace, located on the heights of Montélimar. It testifies to the power of the Adhémar family who gave the city its name. A true jewel of Southern Romanesque architecture. From the shore walk you have a breathtaking 360° panoramic view. Its strategic advantages are obvious, being close to the main communication routes of the Rhone and the road from Lyon to Arles. On the edge of the kingdoms of Burgundy and Provence, at the crossroads of powerful dioceses, this position favored the autonomy of these lords, members of a prestigious lineage in Provence and Dauphiné and whose representatives were several lords of Montélimar. The site consists of a stately home, a Romanesque chapel, a square tower and a fortified enclosure surmounted by a walkway. Over the centuries, buildings have had many functions. Today, you can discover the castle and its history through family and fun activities, immersing you in the heart of the Middle Ages.
Leaving the city, you will first cross the Rhône bypass canal and then continue on the Rhône itself. The bypass canal is 14.5 km, starts in Meysse and ends in Châteauneuf-du-Rhône.
The Rhone rises from the Rhone Glacier at the Furka Pass in the northeast of the Swiss canton of Valais and flows from there in a southwesterly direction. The Rhone flows into Lake Geneva and leaves the lake to cross the border with France a few kilometers more south-west. At Lyon, the Saône joins the river and the Rhône flows definitively further south. Before Arles, the river splits into the Grand-Rhône and the Petit-Rhône. This area is called the Camargue. The Rhone flows into the Golfe du Lion.

The Rochemaure castle was built between 1120 and 1140. Within the double walls are a keep and a manor house from the 13th century. The location was chosen from a strategic point of view. From the basalt rock, one could keep a close eye on the Rhone valley, important for trade. The castle grew into one of the most important castles in the region. Therefore, it was further expanded with additional defensive walls. Over the centuries, the castle of Rochemaure changed hands regularly. It was inhabited until 1630, but then fell into disrepair. In 1924 it was recognized as a historical monument, which meant the rescue of the once important castle. Thanks to its location, on a high basalt rock, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the area. Several parts of the castle have been restored, so that during the visit you get a good idea of what this castle must have looked like in its heyday.

You can enjoy a delicious meal on the beautiful terrace under the plane trees of Restaurant L'Auberge in Rochmaure.

Those who love sweets - or are looking for a sweet present - should definitely visit the Palais des Bonbons, du Nougat et des Souvenirs. This is one of the most visited tourist sites in the Drôme, with almost 150,000 visitors a year. You will discover a whole world of sweets where sugar, candies, chocolate and the famous nougat of Montélimar mix.
The 5 senses are used through a fun and interactive course. Film screenings, scented organs, unique works, candy displays and a lemonade distillery from the 1920s awaken the taste buds of young and old.

You now drive further along and through the forest of Saoû, one of the most beautiful forests of the Drôme. A real limestone wall extends over 2500 hectares and is home to an exceptional biodiversity.
At the beginning of this area you get a nice view of the steep cliff of La Roche Colombe (886 m).
In Saoû you can take a break for a drink on the terrace of restaurant L'Oiseau sur la Branche. It is located on a small square where there is also parking.
You will then follow the spectacular Pas de Lauzens, posted as 'Route remarquable'. It is a fairly narrow road through deep gorges.
The highest point of the forest is Les Trois Becs. It is the most beautiful high-altitude syncline in Europe. (A syncline is a fold in a rock layer, where the material on the inside of the fold is younger than that on the outside.)
This exceptional site is home to hundreds of species with a plant diversity of mountain and Mediterranean influences and a very diverse wild fauna (chamois, roe deer, marmot, golden eagle ...).

Col de la Chaudière is a mountain pass at an altitude of 1,047m. The pass is 22.5 km long and runs north to south from Saillans to Bourdeaux. The road is narrow, steep but with little traffic. You can expect many hairpin bends with beautiful views.
The Belvédère du Bézaudun offers you a beautiful view of the surroundings.

Gorges de Trente-Pas is a spectacular gorge carved into the limestone. The gorges are crossed by the meandering D70. The road meanders like a river. It is a picturesque but narrow road with little traffic. In the narrow gorge are thirty fords - hence the name. From the remains of a village with huts dating back to 825 BC, we know that it has been inhabited since the Gallo-Roman era.
The village of Saint-Ferréol-Trente-Pas is known for its goat farming, the production of olives or its lavender. This road is one of the most famous 'balcony roads' in the country. A balcony road is a hair-raising track carved into the sides of sheer cliffs.

During the last 10 km you follow the Eygues. The name comes from the Occitan 'aiga' or the Provençal 'aïgo' meaning 'water'. The river flows into the Rhone near Orange.
You reach the end of this route in cozy Nyons. You can possibly enjoy it on one of the many terraces.
Grignan castle
Les Trois Becs
Links
Grignan castle
Adhemar castle Montélimar
Rochemaure castle
Palace of bonbons and nougat
Trente Pas gorges
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.

Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.

Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Auvergne Rhone Alpes
About this region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ARA; French: [ovɛʁɲ ʁon‿alp] (listen); Arpitan: Ôvèrgne-Rôno-Ârpes; Occitan: Auvèrnhe Ròse Aups; Italian: Alvernia-Rodano-Alpi) is a region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into effect on 1 January 2016, after the regional elections in December 2015.The region covers an area of 69,711 km2 (26,916 sq mi), making it the third largest in metropolitan France; it had a population of 7,948,287 in 2017, second to Île-de-France. It consists of twelve departments and one territorial collectivity (Lyon Metropolis) with Lyon as the prefecture.
This new region combines diverse geographical, sociological, economic and cultural regions, which was already true of Rhône-Alpes, as well as Auvergne, to a lesser extent. While the old Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne regions each enjoyed a unity defined by axes of communication and the pull of their respective metropoles, the new combination is heterogeneous; it sustained lively opposition from some local officials after its creation.
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Route Collections in this region
The 24 Most Beautiful Alpine Routes
The Alps, The Alps are a mountain range in Europe, stretching from the French Mediterranean coast in the southwest to the Pannonian Plain in the east. The area of the mountain range is more than 200,000 km².

In other words Passes and Mountain Roads!

Driving through the mountains is great! Especially over the mountain passes with hairpin bends and narrow winding roads. Every bend a different view where you can enjoy. There are many beautiful mountain passes in the Alps.

A selection that has also been incorporated into these routes:
The Stlevio Pass:
The Stelvio Pass, also known as Passo dello Stelvio, is mainly known for the stage in the Giro d'Italia. Due to the length and the difference in height, this pass is seen as one of the toughest tests in cycling. The Stelvio Pass reaches a maximum height of 2758 meters and is therefore one of the highest in the Alps. The pass connects the towns of Bormio and Prato Allo Stelvio. In winter the pass is closed due to heavy snowfall.

The Reschenpass:
The Reschenpass, also known as Passo di Resia, connects the Austrian state of Tyrol with the Italian province of South Tyrol. The pass reaches a maximum height of 1,504 meters and has been one of the most important north-south connections in the Alps in recent centuries. The pass was used long before Roman times. Along the way you will pass several highlights and historical relics. One of the highlights is the Reschensee. This lake was created after the construction of the dam and has completely submerged the village of Graun. The only thing that reminds of that is the clock tower in the middle of the lake.

Col du Galibier:
The French mountain pass Col du Galibier connects the towns of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via the Col du Lautaret in the south and the Col du Télégraphe in the north. The mountain pass is part of the Tour de France and very much feared, due to the fact that it can only be reached via the other two mountain passes. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2646 meters. From there you can take a walk to the viewpoint at 2704 meters. You can admire the peaks of the Grand Galibier, Mont Blanc and La Meije here.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road:
With a height of 3798 meters the Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria. To fully enjoy this impressive mountain, you can drive over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the accompanying pass. The route starts from Bruck am Grossglockner and ends in Heiligenblut. Of course you can drive in two directions. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2504 meters and is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. Along the way you pass several stops with fun activities, information points, mountain huts and viewpoints. A visit to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and Pasterzen Glacier is highly recommended.

The Col d'Izoard:
Just like the Col du Galibier, the Col d'Izoard is also part of a stage of the Tour de France. The mountain pass connects Briançon with the valley of the river Guil. The pass is partly located in the Regional Natural Park du Queyras and reaches a maximum height of 2360 meters. What is special about the Col d'Izoard is the barren and rocky landscape. Sometimes it feels like driving a car over the moon! Along the way you can stop at several points to enjoy the beautiful view.

The Bernina Pass:
The Bernina Express is one of the most famous rail trains in Switzerland and the Alps. The route is beautiful and partly included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Parallel to the railway lies the Bernina pass, which connects the Veltlin valley with the Egandin valley. This beautiful Alpine road has a total length of 56 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2328 meters. Along the way you can enjoy views of the Morteratsch Glacier.

The Sella Pass:
The Sella Pass, also known as Passo di Sella, takes you over one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Dolomites: the Sella massif. The pass connects Valle di Fassa with Val Gardena and reaches a maximum height of 2236 meters. At this height is also the border of the Italian provinces of Trentino and Bolzano. Along the way you can enjoy the view of this spectacular mountain world. Admire, for example, the three peaks of the Sasso Lungo massif, the Sella massif or the peaks of the Marmolada. You can also drive the Sella pass in combination with the Gardena pass, Pordoi pass and Campolongo pass.

The Grimsel Pass:
The Grimsel Pass connects Goms in Wallis with the Halis Valley in the Bernese Oberland. The pass reaches a maximum elevation of 2165 meters and is closed in winter due to snowfall. Over the centuries, the mountain pass has played an important role in trade between Switzerland and Italy. Now it is mainly the reservoirs that have an important function. These are used to generate electricity. The landscape you drive through is rugged, rocky and impressive. On top of the pass is a hotel and a restaurant with a special marmot park. The Dodensee (Totensee) is also located here. This lake owes its name to the many soldiers who died in the time of Napoleon.

The Gotthard Pass:
The Gotthard Pass, also known as Passo del San Gottardo and Saint Gotthard, connects the Swiss towns of Airolo and Andermatt. The mountain pass and associated tunnel are especially known among holidaymakers driving from Switzerland to Italy. But where the majority opt for the tunnel, it is precisely the pass that really completes the holiday. The Gotthard Pass has a length of about 26 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2106 meters. The route is beautiful and takes you along old villages and beautiful views.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road and Silvretta Pass:
The Paznaun Valley in Tyrol and the Montafon in Vorarlberg are connected by the Silvretta High Alpine Road. The route has a length of 22.3 kilometers and leads from Galtür to Partenen in 34 hairpin bends, via the 2032 meter high Bielerhöhe. The Silvrettasee is also located at this point, where you can enjoy a lovely walk. The pass is closed in winter due to snowfall.

The Simplon Pass:
Just like the Gotthard Pass, many holidaymakers also travel over the Simplon Pass every year. This mountain pass connects the Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais with the Valle d'Ossola in Piemonte. The pass is open all year round and reaches a maximum height of 2005 meters. Along the way you pass a number of buildings, including the well-known Simplon Hospiz from 1825. The hospiz is managed by the monks of St. Bernard. From the highest point on the pass, all kinds of hiking routes are possible and you will also come across a hotel where you can spend the night.

The Gerlos Pass:
The Gerlos Pass connects the Salzach Valley in the Salzburgerland with the Zillertal Valley in Tyrol. The pass is part of the Gerlos Alpenstraße and runs right through the Hohe Tauern National Park. Along the way you can enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings. The pass has a length of 12 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 1531 meters. A ride over the Gerlos Pass can be ideally combined with a visit to the Krimmler Wasserfälle.

The Great St. Bernard Pass:
The Great St. Bernard Pass, better known as Col du Grand Saint Bernard, connects the Italian province of Valle d'Aosta with the Swiss canton of Valais. The pass is one of the highest in Switzerland and reaches a maximum height of 2469 meters. Like a number of other mountain passes in this list, the Great St. Bernard Pass has also been used as a connecting road for centuries. The pass is named after the St. Bernard dogs that used to help stranded travelers along with the monks. The pass is closed in winter.

The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road:
The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road connects the towns of Sölden in the Ötztal and Meran in South Tyrol. Tolls must be paid on the Hochgurgl - Moos route. Via a mountain road with about 60 hairpin bends you drive through a beautiful mountain world. With the Timmelsjoch Experience you can learn more about the history, the road and the environment via various stations. You can also visit the Top Mountain Crosspoint museum.

Col de l'Iseran:
With a maximum pass height of 2770 meters, the Col l'Iséran is one of the highest mountain passes in the Alps. The pass connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Bonneval-sur-Arc. Via a road full of hairpin bends you pass, among other things, Val-d'Isère and a side valley of the Maurienne that lies entirely in the National Park de la Vanoise. You can spot animals such as marmots and chamois and there is also a restaurant with a chapel on top of the pass.

The Gavia Pass:
The Gavia Pass (Italian Passo di Gavia) is a mountain pass in the Italian Alps, in the Lombardy region.
It is one of the highest pass roads in Europe. The road leads through the unspoilt Stelvio National Park. The road was built in the First World War to supply Italian soldiers who fought in the Italian-Austrian border area. The pass height is one of the most beautiful in the Alps. Here is the large Lago Bianco with, to the north, the mountain San Matteo (3684 meters). Lago Nero is slightly lower on the south side of the pass. Here the mountain group of the Adamello determines the view. There are many well-marked walks in the area. During the winter the pass is closed due to the heavy snowfall. The pass is often closed until May and June due to the large amount of snow.


Promoter has made a selection of the 24 Most Beautiful Alpine routes that they have set out in recent years.

The routes go through:
France
Austria
Switzerland
Italy

The most beautiful roads, the most beautiful views, the most beautiful viewpoints. The highest mountains, the fastest descents, hairpin bend after hairpin bend, you name it you can't get enough of it.

If you go on holiday in this region, take advantage of it, ALL routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.

Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Alps and the Dolomites have to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.

I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).



View Route Collection
24 Routes
8059.29 km
171h 24m
25 Magnificent trails in France
This MRA route collection contains 25 beautiful motorcycle routes in different parts of France, such as the Ardennes, the Alsace, Vercors, the Drôme, the Ardèche, Cote d'Azure, Gorges du Verdon, the Ariège, the Dordogne and Brittany.

The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.

The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.

I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.

View Route Collection
25 Routes
4106.1 km
106h 0m
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