De Néandertal à Gargantua par le Rhône

A land of history and stories, this piece of Drôme Provençale still has many tales to tell. From Malataverne to Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, prehistoric men and fictional characters rub shoulders, with the blue of the Rhône as a common thread.

Route via Malataverne, Donzère, Pont du Robinet, Pierrelatte and Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux.

Points of interest :

- The hilltop village of Malataverne and its hamlet of Rac. The Grotte Mandrin archaeological dig site is packed with vital information about the period when Neanderthals became extinct and Homo Sapiens took over. The cave is inaccessible to the public, which is why the Mairie has set up an exhibition on its premises, using 3D tools to publicize the scale of these scientific advances.

- Donzère and its museum dedicated to the history of the town and the Rhône river

- A slight detour to the north to follow the Rhone "défilé" (dazzling white cliffs) and pass over one of the last suspension bridges crossing the King's river, the Pont du Robinet, listed as a Historic Monument.

- Head for Pierrelatte via the Ardèche, taking the D86 with the Rhône as your travelling companion, then the D93 to cross the dam into the Drôme. On the way, a surprise viewpoint with the Rhône, the village of La Garde-Adhémar and Mont Ventoux.

- Pierrelatte, with its emblematic Rocher, the founder of the town, thrown up by Gargantua during a walk in the region (but scientifically linked to the cliffs of Donzère). A stone statue of the giant stands on a traffic circle, while another giant illustration, visible from Avenue du Maréchal Leclerc de Hautecloque, decorates the town's water tower.

- A medieval atmosphere in the medieval town of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, with its Romanesque cathedral and charming shopping streets. The Musée d'Archéologie Tricastine will delight history buffs, while the Maison de la Truffe et du Tricastin will delight gourmets interested in the mysteries of the Black Truffle.