The Rhône River is close at hand and vineyards dot the countryside -- this is the landscape in the region of Château Le Roure in the Drôme département of the Rhône-Alpes of southeastern France.  Life in the Rhône River Valley is rich and rewarding -- not just for the local population but for visitors as well.

The Drôme is known for several prominent small cities and towns of which Valence is the largest.  Located on the Rhône's east bank about 35 miles north of Château Le Roure, the city has a fine Musée des Beaux Arts and a Romanesque cathedral, St-Apollinaire.   Due east of Château Le Roure and surrounded by lavender fields is the town of Grignan atop a hill -- primarily known for its massive Château de Grignan where Madame Sévigné wrote her famous letters and also where she died.  She is entombed in the town's church, Eglise de Saint-Saveur. Château de Grignan is considered one of the finest Renaissance structures in this part of France, and it contains a splendid collection of Aubusson tapestries and furnishings from the period of Louis XII.  East of Grignan following the D941 along the River Eygues and in the heart of olive country is Nyons -- the kind of village one must explore on foot.  With its maze of winding cobbled streets and stairways that climb between them, a marvelous olive museum and, not least, the lively Thursday market, Nyons is worth a visitor's time.

Nearest to Château Le Roure, however, is Montélimar, center of the almond nougat candy industry which began here in the early 1600s.  Montélimar is a market town with all services, including a railway station, and is also known for the Château des Adhémar, on a hill above the town, constructed in the 12th, 14th and 16th centuries. 

Follow the D206 south from Montélimar for about four kilometers to reach Château Le Roure, on its own ten-acre park.  It is here you will not only discover a bucolic retreat in an exceptional region of France, but romantic guest rooms and the fine cuisine of their exceptional dining room.  Your hostess will welcome you and make you feel at home, and your host will astonish you with his culinary expertise!

Marriages take place at the château -- it is an ideal location!  The catering of the meal is superb, fine linens and table decorations are provided, and the views of the parc are magnificent.  Garden weddings or indoor weddings and receptions are both thoughtfully designed to assure a very happy occasion with wonderful memories. 

But,  what about the château as a bed and breakfast accommodation? Château Le Roure offers four lovely and spacious en suite guest rooms (one with a fireplace) and two 2-bedroom suites, one with a private terrace and the other with a fireplace.  Whatever your requirements, this fine selection of rooms is sure to provide just what you are looking for. 

Dinners  at the château will be gourmet feasts with exciting menu selections at the most reasonable prices.   The dining room is classical in design and breakfast can be eaten there or is especially enjoyable when taken in the sun-bathed Orangerie.

East of Montélimar are many medieval villages and scenic drives.  This is a very pretty region of green, rolling hills, fortified villages and olive groves. Not least of all is the Rhône River itself -- a powerful, wide river connecting some very interesting towns and cities -- Annecy, Lyon, Vienne, Valence, Montélimar, Avignon, Arles -- from its origin in Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) to its destination in the Camargue as it empties into the Mediterranean.

And remember that you are in Rhône wine country with opportunities for visits to vineyards and wine tastings.   Such famous names as Châteauneuf-du-Pape come to mind -- the village is not beyond reach if you are a guest at Château Le Roure.   To the south along the Rhône River is the Papal city of Avignon, or follow the N86 south from the château to the nearby Roman aqueduct of spectacular proportions and amazing condition -  the Pont du Gard.

For those who enjoy the wild country, the huge Parc Naturel Regional des Monts d'Ardeche west of Valence is brimming over with mountainous scenic highways winding above gorges -- the Corniche de l'Eyrieux is the most prominent.  In the parc, near the western edge of the Drôme where it borders the département of the Haute-Loire, you will find Gerbier de Jonc and the source of the Loire River.  It is in this remote spot that the Loire begins its journey.  On a smaller scale, and closer to the château is the dramatic and awe-inspiring Gorges de L'Ardeche at the southern edge of the Plateau des Gras bordering the département of Ardeches.  When visiting either of these, don't forget your camera! 

A stay at Château Le Roure is special on so many levels:  comfort, cuisine, regional attractions and a warm welcome by your friendly host and hostess, Philippe and Dolores Lhopital.  Do visit their pages on our web site to see many more photos and read in depth about this outstanding and refined establishment.  Take in the Drôme on your next visit for a little bit of authentic France!