Trail Name: Des Vignes et Cabanes
Trail Type: Short-distance circuit (for hiking and biking); well-maintained and almost exclusively paved or hard-packed surfaces; marking on the trail fairly good. See comments below.
Length: 8.95 kilometers/5.5 miles
Convenient to: Montelimar, France
Marking: Either VTT 1, or just 1
Trail Description: A short and very easy, almost flat, circuit trail, that circles through the fields, vineyards and forests around the small town of Grignan, with the added attraction of passing through the picturesque town itself.
Trailhead:
Official: Grignan – D4/Rue du Grand Faubourg (intersection with Allee du 11 Novembre)
Mine: Grignan – Parking lot on Chemin des Chataigniers
Parking:
Grignan: Chemin des Chataigniers, a large, unpaved lot
Grignan: Parking along Allee du 11 Novembre, in places
Public Transportation Options:
Rail: None
Bus: Montelimar to Nyons, bus 71, Cars Region, Auvergne Rhone Alpes, serves Grignan. See https://www.sradda.com/lignes-regionales-rhone-alpes.html
Suggested Stages:
Not applicable
Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (Clockwise)
Grignan: Follow D4 to Chemin des Chataigniers, Rte de Taulignan, Chemin de l’Estang le Jas, right turn at Y, La Montine, past a couple of houses, to Chemin de la Grande Tuilliere, turn left, to and through eponymous hamlet, toward « Le Figuier », cross Chemin du Figuier/La Tuilieres, follow path to the hamlet of Mas, cross Chemin de la Grande Tuilliere, left onto Chemin de la Pivouillette, along D541/Rte de Valreas, to Ave de Grillon, turn onto Cours Adhemar, right along D541 to Allee du 11 Novembre, R du Grand Faubourg
Representative Trail Photos:
Restrooms:
None observed
Attractions on or near Trail:
Carriage ride through vineyards (and lavender fields), Les Caleches de la Marquise, a unique way to visit the surrounding area. Ask for details at the Grignan tourist office.
Tasting along the Trail:
Grignan: in the section of town “Grande Tuilliere,” Domaine Montine (directly on the trail)
Grignan: wine bars and wine shops in the town
Alternative Options:
Hiking: Hiking and biking opportunities in nearby Chamaret. See the Nutshell here.
Biking: Les Truffieres et les Vignobles trail is a medium-difficulty, 22-kilometer VTT (mountain bike) circuit route, circling nearby Taulignan.
Additional Information:
Regional: https://www.grignanvalreas-tourisme.com/
Trail specific: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-1-des-vignes-et-des-cabanons/
Comments:
This trail is also listed as an all terrain bike (VTT, in French) cycling circuit, and in places a minimum of a hybrid bike (vice a racing or touring bike) is required.
Concerning biking in this area overall (from good aspects to not-so-good aspects): On most public roads (vice agricultural or forest roads), traffic is light; the inclines are not terribly steep; but the trail surfaces can be rudimentary/challenging in some places. On the whole, I would say go for it!
Great area overall for relaxation.