The surroundings

La Roseraie - Drôme

La Roseraie-Drôme was originally a farmhouse, which was destroyed during World WarTwo, but after the war it was rebuilt and made habitable again.  The rose garden (from which La Roseraie takes its name) was replanted with love and care and characterises the peace and beauty of the area. 

Here, our guests can enjoy calm and tranquillity in beautiful surroundings amongst trees, fields, mountains, vineyards and olive groves. An avenue of linden trees welcomes you along the driveway of La Roseraie-Drôme.

La Roseraie-Drôme lies in approximately 2.5 hectares of ground on a south-facing hillside overlooking a peaceful valley. The grounds are dotted with fruit trees, linden trees and olive trees. There is also a fig tree and walnut tree as well.  Guests who wish to do so can find many quiet places to rest and relax in the grounds, around the pool and by the stream.

Our guests are completely surrounded by the sights, sounds, tastes en scents of nature and will be enchanted by the wonderful skies of the Drôme. Be surprised by the pure taste of the regional products and the typical smells of olives and lavender. The area is redolent with the smell of lavender during its flowering season and the climate and quality of the air are a feature at all times of the year.

During the spring and autumn we plan to arrange theme events.  You would be welcome to join us in a culinary 'long weekend' in which you would be involved in the purchase of ingredients and the preparation of the meals. Or perhaps we could interest you in a week or weekend of music based in our rose garden. If you like quiet, then maybe a programme of meditation would be more to your taste. During the lavender season we plan a week during which our activities will concentrate on celebrating the scent, taste and enjoyment of that beautiful plant.

Lying between hills in the Drôme valley, La Roseraie-Drôme is approximately a 5 minute drive or a 15 minute walk from the little village of Condorcet, near the medieval town of Nyons. Condorcet is small, but boasts a specialist bakery (mentioned in several guides). There is also a Post Office and a small supermarket.  Several restaurants are found just a short drive away from La Roseraie-Drôme, 'La Charrette Bleue' and ‘la Fleur de Thym” are only about a 10 minute drive away at Les Pilles.

It is possible to do all your day to day shopping at Nyons, which is a delightful little town with a market square. There is a bank, a pharmacy, a newsagent and second-hand shops. The more active of you can bicycle around the area, and there are tennis courts for hire. There is a great deal to discover and enjoy in this part of France. 

Z      Culture

- There are Provencal markets in  Vaison-la-Romaine and Nyons,
- 16th and 17th Century castles at Grignan, with lovely examples of renaissance architecture.
  Of particular interest are the Italian style arcades in the square at Suze-la-Rousse.

- The most beautiful villages, for example Montbrun-les-Bains, La Guard Adhémar and Le Poët-Laval
- Pottens town Dieuliefit, are within easy motoring distance.
- There is a miniature Provencal town in Grignan covering an area of 1,000 sq. metres,
  with 80 buildings and over 1,000 small figurines, all hand-made.

- Several brocantes in all kinds of little villages (overview available at La Roseraie)

Z      Gastronomy

- This area is noted for its wines, with the AOC Cotes du Rhône Villages, the AOC Cotes du Rhône Régionaux
  and AOC Coteaux du Tricastin locally produced. There is a college of wines at Suze-la-Rousse.
  We, at La Roseraie-Drôme, will be happy to advise you.

- Regional products include:

© Olives and olive-oil from Nyons (AOC
   quality)

© Linden blossom from the Baronnies

© Montélimar nougat from Montélimar
   and Séderon

© Apricots from the Drôme

© Truffles from Tricastin

© Lamb from the furrow Alps

© The perfume of plants and lavender
   in season

© Lavender and flower honey from the
   Drôme.

Z      De natuur.

Kleur- en geurrijke lavendelvelden, de Mont Ventoux en les dentelles de Montmirail.
Nyons staat bekend als luchtkuuroord mede door de gunstige invloed van het klimaat.

Z      There are many activities to tempt the more energetic visitor such as:

- Bicycle and footpaths to wander in the neighbourhood of Nyons, St Ferreol Trente Pas, Buis-les-Baronnies,
  Rémuzat, Grignan and Valouse. (The rides vary in time between 2.5 and 4.5 hours.) 

- Clansayes has a 9 hole golf course. Montboucher-sur-Jabron has an 18 hole course.
- You can go horse riding in the hills at St. Pons.
- There are special routes for driving along, for instance the Côte du Rhône wine route, the lavender route,
  Sacred art routes, an olive tree route and routes through 9 botanical towns.

Z      Other activities include:

- Jazz festivals and folk or classical music festivals. You can attend the theatre or concerts in Avignan.

- There is a ceramic museum in Dieulefit, a silk museum in Taulignan and an olive museum in Nyons.

- You will find a linden blossom market in Buis-les-Baronnies and

- a lavender feast at Montélimar

Each month at La Roseraie-Drôme, we produce a list of regional activities.
In addition the Local Tourist Offices located in towns and many villages give helpful advice on all local activities and events.