Bastide de Montvendre

Montvendre is a small village in the Drôme, about twenty kilometres from Valence, in the hilly country east of the Rhône valley, and its Bastide is a local property rather than a famous monument. A bastide, in the south of France, can mean a country house or a farmhouse of some pretension, usually built of stone with a tiled roof and shaded by trees, and in the Drôme such houses dot the countryside among orchards and fields. What follows concerns the village and its surroundings.

Montvendre is known for its flowers. The village takes part in the national scheme that rewards towns and villages for their floral decoration and green spaces, and it has been recognised for the care that the municipal gardeners and local horticulturists put into its streets and squares. Visitors who come in the right season find flower beds, planters and hanging baskets in bright colours, and the care with which the village is maintained gives it a welcoming atmosphere. The place is quiet, with little traffic, and is a good spot for a gentle walk, with views over fields and woods, and it is easily reached by car, with parking nearby.

The village is a convenient base for the countryside of the Drôme, a département with a varied landscape: the Rhône valley and its vineyards to the west, rolling hills and orchards in the middle, and the first steep ridges of the Alps to the east. Further south, the Drôme provençale is known for lavender, olive trees and hilltop villages. Among the best-known sights of the region is the Palais Idéal of the postman Ferdinand Cheval at Hauterives, a fantastical building that he made with his own hands over more than thirty years, using stones he collected on his postal rounds, and the château of Grignan, linked with the letters of Madame de Sévigné, is another highlight.

Valence, the nearest city, offers a number of places to see. The Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire is a Romanesque church of the eleventh century, the Place Gambetta and the pedestrian streets of the centre have shops and cafés, and the Théâtre de Valence is the main venue for performance. The Parc de l'Île de Mars on the river and the Colline de la Croix give green space and views. The Rhône valley's wines, such as Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph, can be tasted at estates nearby.

A visit to the village takes an hour or so, and it suits those who like quiet rural places and gardens. Spring and summer are best for flowers. Check locally for access to any specific property.