Drôme Provençale: the most beautiful hilltop villages around Grignan

To the west, La Garde-Adhémar reigns majestically above the Rhône Valley from atop a limestone promontory. Your first stop is the Church of Saint-Michel, whose clean lines, semicircular arches and finely crafted capitals are a perfect illustration of 11^th century Provencal art. A few steps away, you will discover the Jardin des Herbes, a delightful garden hidden behind a gate at the foot of the southern rampart.

Lemon thyme, medicinal lavender and peppermint thrive between dry stone walls and narrow paths. The view opens up fully onto the valley, vineyards and olive groves, stretching as far as the Ardèche mountains. In the narrow streets, you can stroll among artisan shops and carefully restored houses.

Your escapade through Provence continues in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, the former religious capital of Tricastin. Larger than the surrounding hilltop villages, the town retains a strong architectural identity, marked by the presence of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Inside, its harmonious proportions and sculpted details bear witness to meticulous medieval craftsmanship. Nearby, the Maison de la Truffe et du Tricastin introduces you to the secrets of the ‘black diamond’, the truflle being the gastronomic symbol of the region.

This is your opportunity to try the fragrant olive oil and local AOP wines, perfect accompaniments to delectable truffles. For a break in nature, take a walk or bike ride along the 2.5 km greenway running across the city. This shaded path alongside an old railway line, goes through several gardens and orchards, where the scents of pine and fig trees sometimes waft through the air.

Next, head to Richerenches, the undisputed stronghold of the Tricastin black truffle. From November to March, this charming village comes alive every Saturday during the weekly market, where trade negotiations are sometimes conducted in hushed tones by an open crate. To understand this tradition, step inside the Truffle and Wine Museum, housed in the former Templar Commandery.

There, you will discover the links between truffle farming, the Knights Templar and artisanal know-how, through tools, documents and carefully staged displays. Nearby, the church of Saint Denis and the remains of the ramparts recall the medieval heritage of the village, still visible in the layout of its narrow streets.

The penultimate stop is Nyons, a village famous for its black olives and fruity AOP olive oil. After crossing the medieval bridge over the Eygues River, stroll through the narrow streets of the town centre, lined with stone arcades and small squares with fountains. To discover the secrets of the local olive industry, head to the Espace Vignolis. The olive museum displays presses, pruning tools and scenes from the harvest. Opposite the museum, the Comptoir des Vieux Moulins lets you visit a historic olive press still operating today.

You can watch the different stages of production, from crushing to decanting, then savour the oils with their powerful aromas. Finally, if you are there on a Thursday morning, do visit the Provençal market to taste tapenades and other local specialities, before leaving with a bottle of freshly produced oil. A delicious gourmet touch to take home as a souvenir from your time in Provence.

Finally, as you travel up the Jabron Valley, you arrive at Le Poët-Laval, a former commandery of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem, built on a wooded hillock. The cobbled streets wind their way to the top of the village: narrow paved streets, ramparts and stone houses form a remarkably well-preserved medieval ensemble.

You then go down to the Museum of Protestantism in the Dauphiné area, housed in an elegant mansion, to learn about the history of the Huguenots in the Drôme. Finally, take the paths around the village, which offer panoramic views of the Haut-Diois hills and the surrounding countryside.