Relax & savor its rich cultural heritage
Dieulefit, in the heart of the Drôme Provençale
Dieulefit (God made it) is hard to say in English, but here goes: D'yeuh-luh-fee
Dieulefit is a village of 3,000 in the Drôme Provençale (see map)...surrounded by forested hills and lavender fields.
At an altitude of 450 meters, it is known for the purity of its air.
Dieulefit has a rich cultural and architectural heritage with sites of historical interest such as «La viale » and a 14th-century bell tower.
Its tradition of pottery can be traced to archaeological finds, vestiges of Gallo-Roman furnaces and pottery. The art of pottery and ceramics is alive in Dieulefit today. The "Maison de la Terre" (House of the Earth) continues in this tradition providing pottery classes and shows.
What to do
- Enjoy a stroll around the village, check out pottery, glass-blowing and art galleries.
- Visit the wonderful Friday morning traditional market specializing in local produce—Picodon goat cheese, lavender products, nougat, honey and olive oil.
- Attend music and theater festivals.
- Take advantage of the region's numerous outdoor activities: cycling and mountain biking, kayaking and rafting, swimming, fishing, golf, horseback riding, paragliding, hiking, rock climbing and tennis.
Where to go
- Tour lavender fields, Drôme castles, other hillside villages, Côte du Rhone vineyards, olive groves and organic farms.
- Visit one of the most beautiful villages of France only five kilometers away:
old Le Poët Laval, home to the Dauphiné Museum of Protestantism. In the 12th century, the "Knights Hospitaliers" of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem built a residence here for their Commander. - Close by are the Château de Grignan, olive groves of Nyons, the Roman ruins at Vaison la Romaine, Roussillon, Mont-Ventoux, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, Crest and Die.
- Discover different ecosystems within a 10-minute drive.
- Swim in the Mediterranean an hour and a half away.
- Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy a bit of nougat: a chewy candy made with local honey, milk and almonds. It is found in Montélimar, the nearest large town in the Rhône valley, which is the world capital of this delicious treat.
Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy a bit of nougat: a chewy candy made with local honey, milk and almonds. It is found in Montélimar, the nearest large town in the Rhône valley, which is the world capital of this delicious treat.
