Barnave: Vineyards, Plants and Village History

Barnave brings together a distinctive variety of plant life, winegrowing and preserved traces of the village’s history. The village is part of the “Zones humides et rivières de la haute vallée de la Drôme” Natura 2000 site and is considered a botanical village. The “Un balcon sur le Haut Diois” hike also leads through vineyards on the heights of Barnave. Preserved sections of medieval fortifications add another dimension to the village’s history. These different themes help you explore Barnave through specific interests.

A botanical village and plants of dry habitats

Barnave is considered a botanical village, where plants from dry habitats are gathered. Around ten flower beds featuring these plants adorn the main street and the areas around the town hall, church and temple. On a stroll through Barnave, you can spot mahonias, well-adapted roses and the small Corsican spurge. Ivy is also part of the local plant life and helps reinforce dry-stone walls. The plants need little watering and withstand cold winters as well as possible snowfall. The village’s botanical character is therefore evident both in its planted beds and in the way the plants complement the dry-stone walls.

Hiking on the Serre and through vineyards

The “Un balcon sur le Haut Diois” hike is listed as taking 45 minutes, with an elevation change of ±50 metres and an age guideline of “over 4 years”. The Chemin de la Clairette passes through vineyards on the heights of Barnave. The starting point is in the village, on the Serre hill, in a small valley basin bordered to the north by the Solaure plateau. Remains from the feudal period have been preserved on the plateau. Duration and elevation change answer different planning questions: 45 minutes gives you an idea of the time required, while ±50 metres indicates the elevation change. The starting point and plateau add context about the surrounding landscape to these route details.

Winegrowing on the Serre

The Serre runs from east to west. Winegrowers make use of its sunny marl soils to grow grapes for the Clairette de Die, Crémant de Die and Châtillon-en-Diois appellations. Winegrowing and hiking through vineyards offer two different ways to explore this theme: the route passes through cultivated countryside, while the Serre’s soils shape the grape-growing. Barnave’s connection with wine can thus be understood both through the hike and through the agricultural use of the hill.

Traces of the fortifications

In Barnave, inhabited sections of the medieval fortification wall have been preserved. The town gate retains the structure that supported a portcullis. The wall and gate show different aspects of the fortifications: inhabited sections on the one hand, and the structure for a portcullis on the other. These architectural details add a concrete perspective on the village’s history to the natural and winegrowing landscape.

Discover more destinations: Montaulieu, Eymeux, La Baume-Cornillane, Souspierre, Hauterives, Claveyson, Montjoyer, Saint-Restitut.

For the regional travel overview: Drôme.