Nyons
Drôme, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The 600 year-old, 40.5 m long single-arched bridge over the crystalline waters of the Eygues is an architectural marvel, at once elegant and simple, majestic and sleek. From its 18 metres above ground, views over the Old Town on one side and the Garde-Grosse mountain, rising to 934 m, are breathtaking.
© Maxime Méchineau
In the heart of the Drôme Provençale, Nyons is an invitation to enjoy the gentle sensory experience of lavender wafting in from the morning “Pontias” wind. Called the “Little Nice” for its climate, it is a small peaceful town nestled in olive groves simply brimming with heritage. Most emblematic is its Romanesque bridge, built between 1341 and 1409. It was designed by the Order of the Holy Ghost, also known as the “Bridge Builders.” The bridge is a genuine architectural feat, with a 40.5 m arch over the crystalline waters of the Eygues River. Beyond it are a main square, the small lanes of the Old Town, and the church of Saint-Vincent, more heritage treasures facing one of Provence’s most beautiful markets. Nyons’ black AOP “Tanche” olives are also big stars here. Olive cultivation was once highly sought after, as the village’s unique artisanal skills used to produce exceptional olive oil. “Scourtins,” coconut fibre oil filters, were used to extract it. These were originally produced in the Nyons “Scourtinerie,” founded in 1882 and recently named a “Living Heritage Company.”