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Montélimar, picturesquely situated on the Rhône Valley, is famous as the capital of nougat. The town grew in the Middle Ages around a 12th-century castle, which still dominates the cityscape today. Stroll through the charming old town with its arcades and cafés. A visit to the nougat factories offers sweet insights into this regional specialty. Culture, history, and culinary delights make Montélimar a worthwhile stopover in the South of France.

The Château des Adhémar in Montélimar is a stunning example of medieval architecture and a significant landmark in the Drôme region. Originally built in the 11th century by the Counts of Toulouse, it was expanded into a magnificent palace by the Adhémar family in the 12th century. Over the centuries, it has served as a fortress, citadel, and prison. Today, it is a publicly accessible monument historique and offers a fascinating insight into the region's history. Visitors can admire the well-preserved Romanesque architectural features and enjoy the breathtaking views from the battlements.

A journey through time to a site that is not yet touristy.

short, simple but effective walk

nice little walk visiting the town center of Montelimar with a stop at the restaurant Le Troquet next to the post office

The workforce in the factories on the Jabron did not only come from the region. After the genocide in Armenia, female refugees came to the region as workers. Many Italian women also settled here. They came mainly from northern Italy and were looking for work on the other side of the Alps. In La-Bégude-de-Mazenc they lived in their own district near the factories, which was named after them. But a comprehensive community life was usually not possible - so they often remained strangers in a foreign country.

Today, a few houses still have a large room with two fireplaces - a "magnanerie". In these efficiently heated rooms, the silkworms hatched, were raised and fed with mulberry leaves. They were kept in boxes, which made rearing particularly efficient. When the caterpillars had pupated and produced the sought-after thread, they were killed in boiling water and removed from their cocoons. The residents of the houses then unwound the long threads and delivered them to the spinning mills. However, intensive breeding endangered the health of the caterpillars: they became more susceptible to disease. This led to the decline of the entire industry in the region around 1860.

Here we are standing on the main artery of the region's early industry, the Jabron. There is a height difference of more than 600 metres between the source in the hinterland and the mouth in Montélimar. This large difference was used to generate energy. This is why the region's factories, potteries and spinning mills are located on the banks of the Jabron. In order to make better use of the water power, parts of the river were straightened and provided with dams. In some places we can still find them today - but the factories are hardly in operation anymore.