Nyons

The town of Nyons, famous for its black olives, is located in the southern part of Drôme, in the heart of the Baronnies Provençales regional natural park. Its olive grove is listed as a “Site Remarquable du Goût”, and its olive oil has been awarded the AOP label.
Nyons has a long history, traces of which can still be seen today. Take a trip back in time in this charming town, one of the Most Beautiful Detours in France…
One of the most iconic Nyons buildings is probably the Pont Roman, which crosses the Eygues. This arched bridge of grey stone consists of only one arch; has a span of 43 metres, and a height of 18 metres. The view of the river and the surrounding landscape is very photogenic! At the foot of the bridge, historic oil mills from the 18th and 19th centuries are a reminder that olive oil production has been important for centuries.
The historic town, accessible via rue des Bas-Bourgs, is also full of architectural gems. Here you will find, among others, the Saint-Jacques gate from the 15th century, part of the medieval quarter. Or the Saint-Vincent church from the 17th century, which houses a beautiful collection of paintings. Also worth mentioning is the Place des Arcades, dating from the 14th century. The traditional market is still held here every Thursday morning, where tastes and smells mingle with cheerful colours.
Another iconic Nyons building that you must see is the Randonne tower from the 13th century, located in the high part of the town. The climb to get there is a bit steep, but well worth the effort. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with a splendid panorama of the town and the surrounding countryside! The Randonne Tower, in medieval architecture, originally served as a castle keep and military prison before becoming a religious building in the 19th century, the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours chapel, today recognisable by the statue of the Virgin Mary at the top.
Then head for the atmospheric district of Les Forts. Here you will still find a medieval atmosphere, with typical cobbled streets and arched galleries. Not to forget, of course, the former feudal castle, and some remains in the form of walls, other traces of this historical past.
Nyons is therefore a town where it is lovely to stay. With its sheltered little squares and many cafés, restaurants and boutiques, the town has a lot to offer. Let your curiosity lead you to the Scourtinerie, the last factory in France where “scourtins” are still made. These are coconut fibre woven baskets, used as a filter for pressing olive oil.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NYONS
Nestled in the mountains, with its hills and valleys, the country enjoys a microclimate Nyons characterized by mildness, sunshine and no wind. Its excellent geographical location between the mountains and plain, protected by a ring of hills, is accompanied by a very strong sunshine (2798 hours per year against 1773 to Paris) and a warmer temperature, even if the fog is rare; which earned it its title of “Petit Nice”.
The many moods of the Nyon region: In terms of landscapes, we can say that the South begins here, but the influence is always present mountain. This creates a great diversity of vegetative cover.
The region is mainly of vineyards and olive groves, a large part of the area composed is classified as AOC. On the outskirts of Eygues, fruit orchards are also present: apricot, plum, cherry …

Origin:

The origins of Nyons lost in the mists of time. The country seems to Nyons have been inhabited from the Neolithic. In the current state of archaeological finds, we can find the first Nyons, formerly Noiomagus, the capital of the Celtic tribe-Ligurian Noiomagenses.
The olive is an integral part of Nyons cultural heritage. Tench is the only olive oil variety that is adapted to the soil and climate of the Nyon region. The olives are picked ripe, so black between December and January. Olives and olive oil were obtained in 1994 the AOC. Olive trees Nyons part of the 114 sites renowned taste since 1994 by the Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism, Culture and Environment.
In the land of olives, the fruit of youth, you will have the pleasure of enjoying many other products of this fertile land: truffles, wine, fruit, herbs, beer, vinegar.

TO SEE, TO DO
The Romanesque bridge. Historic monument in 1925. The single arch Gothic style in stone has a reach of 43 m. The height is 18 m. In Roman times the Eygues are crossed in the air inflated skins. At the end of the Middle Ages, a cable ferry was established. In the fourteenth century, the people demanded that the lade was replaced by a stone bridge. Construction began in 1341 on the plans of In the fourteenth century, the people demanded that the bridge be replaced by a stone bridge. Construction began in 1341 on the plans of Pontifiés brothers. Lack of funds inhibited the continuation of the work. In 1409, the bridge was consecrated by the Bishop of Vaison. The bridge then incorporated at the top of the arch a small square tower, which was used for collecting tolls. This building was demolished in 1849 and the two small chapels built by Nyonsais the beginning of the fifteenth century, the two ends of this path. The boldness of its construction, its momentum over the stream, the strength of its foundation a flood, one from 1692, managed to partially start, its robust appearance, elegant and simple at the same time, certainly make the monument Nyons most curious and most admired.

The Hike tour – The Chapel of Our Lady of Good Help:

The tower is an old military prison built Randonne Montauban to 1280. Sold in 1819 with the other towers of the city, it resisted companies to the buyer, who wished to shoot him. In 1862, Canon Francou, pastor of Nyons, bought the ruin to turn it into a chapel in honor of Our Lady of Good Help. The base of 10 meters in height of 8 meters square is also the oldest building in the city. He erected the pyramid 3-storey arcade with 4 faces decorated with statues, with at the top a statue of the Virgin 3m50 high overlooking the city. At the corners of the first floor are the statues of four saints (St. Joseph, St. John, St. Bernard, St. Vincent). On the second floor we find the holy four corners (Anne, Elizabeth, Theresa and Madeleine). The third floor is decorated by four angels

Place des Arcades (fourteenth century):

On the occasion of the visit of the President of the Republic, it was called “Place Carnot” and Liberation “Square Bourdongle Doctor” (martyr of the resistance). Dating from the years 1330-1340, it bears the mark of the Florentine merchants Lombard. With the construction of this place, the dolphins wanted to enlarge the city and promote trade. At the time of the religion disorders, this was gradually invaded by islets (formed by a group of houses) that occupied more than half the surface. The destruction of these islands very extensive will end 1892 by order of the council. On this site stood the first markets Nyons. Instead retained the market on Thursday, founded by the Dolphins and confirmed by François 1.

The Museum of the olive tree:

cultivation of olives and the production of olive oil from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. Through various exhibitions, the olive museum offers visitors the ancient and more recent history of olive growing in Nyons, its surroundings, and the various uses of olive oil. Picking (bowls, bags, old photos) to the mill (grinding, pressing the early nineteenth century).

The Archaeological Museum:

The museum invites you to discover its archaeological collections from prehistory to the Middle Ages. It collects the remains of the territory of the Baronnies. Many windows are dedicated to prehistory, the discovery of the typical ceramic grey kaolinite containing Voconce, which are everyday objects from the Gallo-Roman civilisation, the famous “Pégaux” (funerary vases)…

The old mills:

This family heritage site covers an area of 350 m². So let yourself explore two oil mills of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a soap eighteenth (unique in France to date), and an old kitchen Haute Provence and the flat millers eighteenth century.
The garden of aromas: This unique garden in France has about 200 species of aromatic plants, aromatic and medicinal. They are distilled for essential oil production, hydrolate or used in herbal tea or fresh plants.
Nyonsoleiado, water park. A stone’s throw from the centre, 1,300 m² of swimming pools, waterfall, river, paddling pool, slides, beaches and 1,000 m² of green space dedicated to leisure and relaxation.

Artisanal Distillery herbs:

lavender, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano…
Factory mats. Until 1956 we made there filters for oil and wine press, but because of the olive gel, we focus on the carpet factory, still in thread colours coconut. This is the last factory in the world still making mats (still on the old machines).
Vinegar: Vinegar flavoured with a decoction of herbs from the Drôme Provençale.
Brewery: Find the brewing tradition of southern France and discover the alchemy of brewing.

EXCURSIONS, RECREATION AND ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA

Hiking:

The Nyonsais offers many walks and hikes of about 400 km of marked trails. Thus, one can observe the different landscapes to the terrain so changeable and the vegetation so diverse. oaks can be seen, Scots pine, Aleppo pine, juniper or the “Spanish broom”. All these routes are available at the tourist office. The walks are classified according to level of difficulty, distance, height difference and duration.

Cycling & Hiking:

ideal area for cycling on the road or over the mountain. To travel the region Nyon, the CDT Drôme offers cyclocarte – cycloguide: Drôme Cycling. Regarding the mountain bike routes, the Office of Tourism provides a sheet with 8 mountain bike routes of Nyons.
Around the country Nyons: 93 km – 3,500 m altitude – about 10 hours. Here is a mountain bike circuit that takes you to the country of Nyons. This sporty circuit requires a good physical and technical training. The route follows the mountain bike routes, connected by links, where you orient yourself using the guide topo “ATV Tour of region Nyon.” This route can be done in 1 or 2 steps, and many more if you want.

Fair of Saint-Barthélemy in Sainte-Jalle in August.