Discover Montélier: Gardens, crafts and countryside

Montélier brings together botanical gardens and landscaped features with culture, crafts and a walking route. This mix is useful when planning a trip because the activities appeal to different interests: they range from garden visits and architectural history to a short guided tour and a walk along rivers and canals. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can first consider which of these themes matter most to your trip. Each place and activity offers its own focus.

Botanical village and garden visits

Montélier is presented as a botanical village with three gardens: Jardin Sémaphore, Jardin des Rêves and Jardin Mexicain. Visitors can explore these gardens. Six fountains and ten sculptures enrich a visit to the botanical village, adding further landscaped features to its gardens. For travellers interested in gardens and landscape design, the named gardens, fountains and sculptures are all part of the experience.

At Jardin Sémaphore, a visit to the garden is combined with a historical theme. It is home to the 90 m² Fresque des Générations, a depiction commemorating the people who shaped the municipality’s territory over the past 2,000 years. The garden also offers games and a shaded seating area. Here, the history of the municipal area and opportunities to spend time in the garden sit side by side.

Circular walking trail along waterways

The “Au gré des cours d'eau” circular walking trail follows rivers and canals. It offers views of the foothills of the Vercors and the Ardèche, and is marked with yellow PR waymarks. This makes it different from the garden locations: the route’s character is shaped by its course along the water and the views. If you would rather go for a walk than visit landscaped gardens during your trip, this offers another way to spend time outdoors.

Architecture, crafts and agriculture

The design and construction of Eglise Saint-Prix are attributed to different parties: architect Tracol designed the church, and it was built by the Jomaron company from La Roche-de-Glun. For architecture enthusiasts, this distinction provides a specific point of interest: the authorship of the design and the company that carried out the work.

Savonnerie Gaiia, a soap workshop in the Drôme, offers a focus on craftsmanship. It hand-makes cold-process soaps and natural cosmetic care products. During the short tour, visitors learn more about the history of the products and the production methods; no advance reservation is required. This visit focuses on how artisanal products are made, distinguishing it from the gardens, architecture and walking route.

La Ferme du Grand Laval adds an agricultural dimension to these themes. This small organic mixed farm includes fruit growing, arable farming and livestock breeding. Wildlife is fully integrated into the farm’s land and agricultural practices.

The different focuses are easy to distinguish when choosing activities for your trip: the gardens and the fresco combine design with history, the church offers a specific architectural point of interest, and the circular walking trail follows rivers and canals. By contrast, the short tour at Savonnerie Gaiia focuses on craftsmanship and the history of its products. You can therefore match your hotel search to the interests you want to prioritise during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Menglon, Vesc, Valouse, Chamaloc, Mercurol, Rochefort-En-Valdaine, Pont-De-l'Isère, Claveyson

For the main travel overview: Drôme.