Drôme provençale: olives, lavender and Roman Vaison
From nougat town Montélimar to Grignan’s castle, Nyons olive oil, Roman Vaison and the Dentelles de Montmirail.
- Distance
- 96 km (60 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 19 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- August 28, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 96 km (60 mi) with 7 stops, from Montélimar to Carpentras. About 1 h 19 min of driving in total.
Route description
Leave the Rhône valley at Montélimar, the capital of nougat, and head east into the Tricastin hills. Grignan’s castle rises above fields of lavender, and the village streets are full of roses in early summer.
Nyons shelters in a valley so mild that olives grow on every slope; visit the olive mills and the humped medieval bridge. The D538 then leads south to Vaison-la-Romaine, where you can walk through two Roman districts and cross a Roman bridge to the upper town.
Séguret is a perched village hanging on the hillside above the vines, and the Dentelles de Montmirail rise just behind it. Loop round through Gigondas and Beaumes-de-Venise, both known for their wines, and finish in Carpentras, whose Friday market becomes a truffle market in winter.
This is easy country for motorhomes, with aires in most villages and plenty of farm stops. It is quieter than the Luberon, and the Ventoux is always on the horizon.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Montélimar
France - 225 km
Grignan castle
HistoryGrignan, FranceA Renaissance château on a rock above lavender country, linked with the letters of Madame de Sévigné. The terrace roof of the church below gives a wide view.
- 325 km
Nyons
France - 418 km
Roman Vaison
HistoryVaison-la-Romaine, FranceTwo excavated districts of a Roman town, with streets, villas and a theatre that still hosts summer performances. A Roman bridge leads to the medieval upper town.
- 58 km
Séguret
France - 64 km
Dentelles de Montmirail
NatureGigondas, FranceA jagged comb of limestone blades rising out of the vineyards of Gigondas and Beaumes-de-Venise. Easy paths start from the Col du Cayron parking.
- 717 km
Carpentras
France
