Montélimar
Montélimar is nicknamed the « Porte de la Provence (gateway to Provence) » due to its location on the road to Provence and the Mediterranean.
Montélimar - between Provence and the Rhône
Montélimar is nicknamed the « Porte de la Provence (gateway to Provence) » due to its location on the road to Provence and the Mediterranean. But it is best-known for its delicious nougat. Just as Marseille is famous for bouillabaisse and Périgord for duck confit, nougat is a veritable institution in this part of the Drôme.
Although the recipe for nougat is known far beyond the walls of the town, even as far as Asia, Montélimar nougat is totally unique. The originally Arabic sweetmeat has come down through the ages to become an internationally renowned sweet, inextricably linked with Montélimar. The town is a cultural and gourmet destination to savour !
An integral part of Montélimar life and traditions, nougat is found on all Provencale tables at Christmas and in the heat of summer, it is enjoyed in the form of ice cream. However, Montélimar is not just nougat ! It has some wonderful heritage buildings like the Château des Adhémar castle and the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Rose.
A cultural and gourmet heritage
Take your time to enjoy the sunshine and explore Montélimar with its splendid historic buildings like the Château des Adhémar which has been keeping a close eye on the town since the 12th century in its role as citadel, prison, palace and now cultural centre. The castle is the venue for temporary exhibitions as well as shows and encounters organised by the town throughout the year.
Go down the hill from the castle past superb mansions to the fine food shops in the historic town centre for some scrumptious treats, or head for the Palais des Bonbons et du Nougat not far from the centre which has something for everyone including indoor games, ‘the World of Chocolate’, a miniature Provençale village and a shady picnic area.
Off the beaten track…
If Montélimar has whet your appetite for sight-seeing, there are plenty more attractions just outside the town. For example, just a few kilometres away is the European Fighter Aircraft Museum (Musée européen de l’aviation de chasse), where 60 aircraft from the ex-USSR, Italy, USA, etc. are on show in an area covering 2.5 hectares. Children love getting close to the animals at the Parc Animalier de Lussas and visiting the Ferme aux Crocodiles at Pierrelatte where 600 animals live in an immense tropical glasshouse.
As for natural attractions, Montélimar is within easy reach of Mont Ventoux and the Gorges de l’Ardèche. Mont Ventoux is a Mecca for walkers with magnificent routes like the GR4, GR9 and GR91 hiking paths, whereas the Gorges de l’Ardèche are best discovered by canoe starting from Ruoms or Vallon-Pont-d’Arc.
Continue your discovery tour of the Drôme by visiting its hilltop villages and famous Musée de la Résistance en Vercors (museum).
Useful information
Access and Transport
By road : Via N7 or A7, take exit n°18 northbound from Marseille or exit n°17 southbound coming from Lyon.
By rail : 18 TGV trains stop at Montélimar every day.
Fast train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Montélimar takes 3 hours.
From Lyon to Montélimar, allow 1½ hours.
Address and contact details
26200 Montélimar
Tel. : 04 75 01 00 20 (Office de Tourisme)"
