Chateauneuf-du-Rhone France
Frequently Asked Questions
At a quiet mooring among plane trees south of Montélimar, away from urban quays. The old village is a few minutes' walk away. It is a discreet stop that most maps overlook.
Yes, and without a guide. You pass through an old fortified gate, climb the narrow lanes to the church square, then up to the hill. Everything is reachable on foot from the ship.
The medieval village and the hill climb fill the morning. In the afternoon, choose: the Navon on foot, a bike ride on the ViaRhôna, or an excursion to Viviers or Montélimar. Adding the Ardèche gorges on top is not realistic.
Not a furnished monument: a few wall sections of the old seigneurial residence remain on the hill. What draws people up is the 360-degree panorama over the Rhône valley, the Montélimar plain and the Ardèche hills. The climb takes about twenty minutes.
A rocky ridge above the village that locals compare to a dinosaur's back. Once a Neolithic site, now a walking area, with easy paths among holm oaks and junipers.
Yes. The ViaRhôna cycle path, which follows the river from Geneva to the Mediterranean, runs nearby and some ships lend bicycles. An hour along the banks is one of the simple pleasures of this call.
Three classics: Viviers across the river, with the smallest working cathedral in France and the Maison des Chevaliers; the Ardèche gorges and the 60-metre natural arch of Pont d'Arc; and Montélimar six kilometres away for its nougat workshops.
Yes, several artisan makers in Montélimar, six kilometres away, open their shops and workshops. The recipe of lavender honey and almonds has been passed down for four centuries.
It depends what you want. There is no major monument here, and hurried passengers will leave disappointed. Those who enjoy sitting under plane trees, watching a game of boules and hearing the accent change will find one of the most peaceful calls on the river.
The euro, cards accepted in shops and nougat workshops. French is spoken, with the southern accent starting to sing. English is not widespread in this village: a few words of French help.
