Population - 438,000   (1,067,000)

Area - 6,530 km²   (1,663)

Population density - 67   (642)

(comparative figs - Surrey UK)

Towns with over 3,000 people

Anneyron   3,319
Beaumont-les-Valence   3,679
Bourg-de-Peage   9,752
Bourg-les-Valence   18,347
Chabeuil   5,861
Chateauneuf-sur-Isere   3,285
Chatuzange-le-Goubet   3,975
Crest   7,739
Die   4,451
Dieulefit   3,096
Donzere   4,379
Etoile-sur-Rhone   4,054
Livron-sur-Drome   7,759
Loriol-sur-Drome   5,698
Montelier   3,120
Montelimar   31,344
Nyons   6,723
Pierrelatte   11,943
Portes-les-Valence   8,090
Romans-sur-Isere   32,667
Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse   3,132
Saint-Marcel-les-Valence   4,114
Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux   7,277
Saint-Rambert-d'Albon   4,302
Saint-Vallier   4,154
Tain-l'Hermitage   5,503
Valence   64,260

What is it really like for holidays in the Drome

The east bank of the Rhone as it flows down into Provence - like the Ardeche this department is technically part of the Rhone-Alpes region

As you get further south so you begin to smell the lavendar and feel Provence

If you start at Vienne in Isere and make your way south - first you pass Cote-Rotie and then as you come into the Drome you arrive at the Hermitage area

For those with taste and need an occasional change from Bordeaux then taste the Shiraz (Syrah) in Crozes-Hermitage and taste pepper in a bottle

The Rough Guide - France - says of Tain l'Hermitage - the only reason to stay is to drink wine and eat chocolate -seems fair enough

If you need to move on to Nougat then you must move down to Montelimar - a good place to drink wine and eat nougat

All in all the Drome is a place to visit

Main town

Valence

535 miles - 8 hours - from Calais

Must visit places


Valence

On the way to Provence - light quality - heat - pine - eucalyptus


Tain-l'Hermitage

Chocolate and wine

Montelimar

Nougat and wine - the gateway to Provence as seen by the people of Montelimar

Drome Holidays - b&b

Drome Holidays - cottages

Drome Holidays - tourist info