Considered the home of French nougat since the 18th century, Montelimar is an attractive town on the Roubion River in Drôme. The area was inhabited by the Celts and the Romans before the reign of the Adhémar family, whose chateau still dominates the town today.
Things to do in Montélimar
Occupying a former hospital chapel is the Musée de la Ville, which is famed for its collection of micro-miniature models crafted by Anatoly Konkenko. Aviation enthusiasts can visit the Musée Européen de l'Aviation de Chasse, where you'll find around 80 historic aircraft on display. In addition to De Havilland Vampires and a DC7 cockpit, there’s a Rockwell OV-10 Bronco that regularly performs demonstration flights.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, tour one of the nougat factories that dot Montelimar, such as Nougat Arnaud Soubeyran. You can watch the bees busily making honey before getting a behind-the-scenes look at the factory floor and tasting samples of the finished product. Nougat Arnaud Soubeyran features a small museum explaining how Montelimar established a reputation as the “Nougat Capital of the World”.
Overlooking the town is the Château des Adhémar, which was established in the 12th century and was later transformed into a Renaissance-style residence. Designated as a Monument Historique, it serves as a cultural and artistic centre where temporary exhibitions are regularly held. From the Tour de Narbonne, there are magnificent views across the surrounding countryside.
Getting around Montélimar
Montelimar is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Marseille Provence Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is two hours away. Trains connect to the Montelimar railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Montelimar is compact enough to explore on foot.