Grignan
A country of hills and small plains, dominated by the distant reliefs and remarkable summits of South Pre Alps (mountain of the Lance, Mont-Ventoux, laces of Montmirail) and on the West, beyond the Rhône, by the mounts of Ardèche.
A typical land of Provence, where the wild holm oaks, brooms and box trees of the scrubland contrast with the rows of cultures (vineyard, lavender, truffle).
The first hillside settlements began to appear during the 10th and 11th centuries, grouped at the foot of castles and then led to the development of medieval villages (Grignan, Chamaret, Valaurie, Roussas…) in the 12th and 13th centuries. The authority was represented by local feudal lords, from the landed gentry, accustomed to having power and prospering, for the most part, from agricultural growth.
At the same time, during the 11th century, the Christianization of the countryside led to other settlements in the vicinity of priories, at the heart of ancient towns (Taulignan), but also on the plains, along former roads (Colonzelle, Chantemerle-Lès-Grignan…) or on antique sites (Montbrison sur Lez, Le Pègue).
These settlements appeared at the end of the Carolingian period, they were depending on great abbeys, sometimes far away, and contributed to the creation of Aiguebelle monastery (12th century) and to the emergence of hillside villages thus defining the medieval landscape of the South Drôme.
A country rich in history, where the landscape beauty,the country flavors and the reception quality, are to discover without reserve, all year round.