Often channelled and equipped with hydroelectric stations, the Rhone between Le Pouzin and Villeneuve-les-Avignon is also the ideal way to explore a Provence that is 100% nature and ‘terroir’. Follow the guide...

By boat or car, a ‘descent’ of the River Rhone is never dull. Flirting with the borders of the Ardèche, Drôme, Gard and Vaucluse, this southern portion of the river is unrivalled when it comes to revealing hidden treasures. There’s only one rule: take the time to stroll along at an easy pace and forget about speeding down the Autoroute du Soleil.

In the north you come to Montélimar, already a gateway to the south. Stop here to taste the favourite delicacy, nougat, and soak up the mixed atmosphere of Provence and Dauphiné. Further south, in the Ardèche hills, you will find the delightful village of Saint-Montan, built around its narrow, winding streets. Through Pierrelatte and Mondragon to reach the lovely Pont-Saint-Esprit, with its strategic riverside position and one of the most beautiful bridges on the Rhone (twenty five arches). The town marks the end of the touristy Ardèche Gorge, a canoeist’s paradise where the river ends its course a few kilometres upstream in the Rhone.

Once you reach the Orange plain, the river runs through the proud vineyards of the Côtes-du-Rhône appellation: the land of the Dentelles de Montmirail, in the distance, with its famous Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes-de-Venise wines. The equally tasty Tavel and Lirac wines can be found on the Gard side, and don’t forget the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, whose vineyards overlook the riverbanks.

At last you come to the ‘City of the Popes’, with Villeneuve-lès-Avignon opposite. Don’t ignore Villeneuve! Though less famous than Avignon, the town (in the Gard region) contains three architectural and historical splendours: the Tour Philippe-le-Bel, the Fort Saint-André and, above all, the Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction.