The lavender of Drôme

The Drôme, the area of France south of Lyons, is located between the Vercors and Provence. 

It is the premier part of France for bio-agriculture due to the warm climate and the rich soil. Some of the finest Drôme products include truffles from Tricastin, Valrhona chocolate, olive oil from Nyons and picodon cheese. 

The wines of the Hermitage, Tain l’Hermitage, Croze-Hermitage and Vinsobres in the Rhône Valley are world renowned. 

Drôme villages including Grignan are often built of local stone and there are châteaux such as Suze-la-Rousse. 

As for its towns, Montélimar is the self-styled capital of nougat, Valence has a rich history and Romans–sur-Isère is the shoe capital of France.

Lavender 

The mild climate and low humidity make this department a world leader in the production of medicinal, perfumed and aromatic plants with Lavender probably being the best known and easily recognisable of these products. 

Lavender is the organic species and there is a hybrid which looks very similar called lavandin, which is a cross with aspic. 

But only lavender grows in the wild only above 600 metres whereas lavandin grows at all altitudes. 

The essential oil of lavender used in aromatherapy perfumes is finer and softer than lavandin, and it keeps its therapeutic properties longer than lavandin which is more pungent. 

The AOP Essential oils of lavender from Haute-Provence’ was set up in 1981 to identify it as being of the highest quality. 

Lavender Distilleries 

There are several lavender distilleries here including the Bleudiois Lavender Distillery and the ‘Distillerie Bleu Provence’ which has been in situ since 1939. 

Lavender Blue Break 

The Lavender Blue Break offers the chance to create images of the scenery, work in the fields with a producer to appreciate the whole production process from harvesting to essential oils, a massage and relaxing treatments with oils and creams, a lavender based dinner. 

The Lavender Paths The Lavender Paths through the fields offer views over Mont Ventoux or the Albion Palin, with walks of up to about four kilometres, all signposted. 

 

Website: www.ladrometourisme.com/en