La Begude-De-Mazenc: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

In the 13th century, the village of La Bégude developed in the valley along the Jabron River, at the crossroads of the two main roads along the « grand chemin ferrat ». Initially, the hamlet was a stopping place for travellers, where the Jabron was crossed via a ford, footbridges or a bridge.

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in La Bégude-de-Mazenc can first familiarise themselves with the special features of the village.

Culture

The Parc et château Loubet is a privately owned château estate founded in the 14th century; only a few remains from that period have survived. In the Quartier des Moulins, one or two former mills can still be seen in Rue des Moulins near the Auberge « L’Écu de France »; the historic mills have been partially or completely converted into residential buildings.

The bell tower of the Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens dates from 1478. The Chapelle de Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel has Romanesque origins. At the Fontaine de la Naïade, water is honoured as a life-giving source through allegorical figures from ancient mythology: a naiad, two children, a shell and fish.

Walks

Le tour du Mont Carmel is a short circular walk for exploring the old village of Châteauneuf-de-Mazenc and its surroundings. The old village was restored in the 20th century and is surrounded by a medieval wall; the gate and belfry of the complex are particularly noteworthy. From there, there are expansive views over the Valdaine plain as far as the Rhône Valley and the Ardèche.

Starting at the “Pierris” signpost at an altitude of 270 m, the circular walk initially follows the yellow-and-red markings along the road eastwards to “Perlonne” at 257 m, and then follows the yellow markings.

Discoveries

The “Visite découverte de la Lavande” offers an introduction to the harvesting and distillation of lavender and lavandin; the extraction of the essential oil is demonstrated using a glass demonstration still. The visit begins with a sensory test involving lavender and lavandin. The cultivation areas and the coexistence of these plants with truffle oaks are then explained.

In La Bégude-de-Mazenc, visitors can explore the Centre écologique de l’Hirondelle aux Champs and its educational trail.

On 1 May 2022, the municipal campsite was replaced by an Aire operated by Camping-Car Park, open around the clock all year round; only motorhomes are accepted there.

More pages about the area: Montclar-Sur-Gervanne, Eurre, Vesc, Pierrelatte, Glandage, Montbrison-Sur-Lez, Saint-Rambert-D'albon, Suze-La-Rousse

To the overarching travel overview: Drôme.