Tourism in Nyons
Situation
Enclosed between valleys and plains, in heart of Provencal Drome, Nyons
city offers at each one, the treasures of its nature until then preserved.
Lined by Eygues river, its historic past remains are here revealed with Provence
perfums and fragrances.
Informations about Nyons
Nyons has this particularity to have kept many traces about the different
periods of History. The one which has the most marked, it's probably
: the olive. In 120 B.C., during the roman conquest, the romans have brought
with them the vineyard and olive tree growing. With the mild and sunny climat
in Nyons, the olive tree growing is spread quickly in all provencal territory
and beyond. Nicknamed the Little Nice, Nyons owes a lot to Romans, who have
made it, until nowadays, the Provencal Drome capital.
In Nyons, the artists and craftsmans arrange to meet to visitors and art
lovers to discover, as in the tradition, jewellery and mirror restoration
workshops.
Don't forget to speak about the country cooking ! It's its quality
and its variety which give it an important renown in France. The city changes
each season in different colours, from olive in winter to aromatic plants
in summer.
The way of life preserved in Nyons city, opens both on a wildlife and a
flora in perfect harmony with the town, but also on exceptional landscapes
full of contrasts between hills, moors and scrublands.
The city
The historic center is built around Castel Ancient,
Saint Vincent Church and Strongs District.
Symbol of this feudal period, don't miss the ramparts with its two wall
towers built on the Maupas rock. You can admire in the church the altar in
carved wood which was, many years ago, in Saint Cézaire Monastery.
In this one, you can find one of unique stairs dated to the 18th century.
Today Saint Cezaire Monastery has been reconvered in “public
services house”.
But the real Nyons symbol it's the Randonne Tower.
This ancient keep, built on a rock too, was used like the castel military
prison. Since two centuries, the building is named “Notre Dame de Bon
Sauveur”.
It's impossible to come in Nyons without to see the Romanesque
Bridge. Emblem of this 12th century architecture, it is 18 meters
tall and is listed on the Historical Register, since 1964 ;
Nyons, it is also and above all, a city next to its nature and which
has know to take it the best : a walk in the Olive Groves
and the Plants Garden before to discover the making process
of olive oils and essential oils.
Typical of provencal cities, Nyons is too edged by squares. The Arcade
Square is accessible by Saint Jacques Door, the
unique remain of medieval wall ; and the Mars Field Square,
ancient royal-tennis court with its magnificient fountain built in Chomérac
stone. Here is mixed the market conviviality and past values.
Traditionnal and gourmet fairs
The city lives each year to the rhythm of traditionnal fairs which date,
for someone, since many centuries.
The procession of Floral Floats takes place during Easter week-end. For
3 days, more of 20 floral floats, musical bands and others activities parade
in city , inhabitants and visitors heart.
The “Olivade Fair” takes place each year in July. For 2 days,
Nyons lives follow the hikings in olive groves, olives and olive oils tasting.
This event is the moment to discover the town under a new look, trought the
night market and olive growers competition.
Gastronomy
The city fame pass also by its exceptional country cooking. Since Antiquity,
the town is famous for its olive production. With a label guaranteeing its
origin, the Nyons olive oil is renowned not only to its tasting quality but
also to its medicinal powers.
The Nyons vineyard is part of the label guaranteeing the origin «
Côtes du Rhône», a renowned very important in the whole
world.
Monuments
The Nyons city possess a lot of monuments for all pleasure of the visitors :
- From the Two Oil Mills dated to 18th and 19th centuries
located at feet Romanesque Bridge to the Soap Factory
to 18th century, you can admire an important objects and tools collections;
- In the Ancient Nyons, you can discover all the medieval history about
the city, trought the church tower of Saint Vincent Church,
the Delphinal Palace and Randonne Tower
;
- Don't miss the visit of the Scourtinerie, the last
french factory of Scourtins, this provencal carpets ovals or circulars;
- From squares to doors, you can pass by the ancient workshops of lombard
and florentine craftsmans in Arcades Square, until the
city walls with Saint Jacques and Apple Doors.
Museums
The sites and museums of the city offer to visitor, a large choose of visits :
- Walk along the olive traces, symbol of town, to visiting the Olive
Groves. This walk will offer you an exceptionnal view on Nyons
and Eygues valley. Continue the visit by the Olive Tree Museum
and the Olive Tree World Institut. To finish this road,
the best way is to make a detour via the Nyons Co-Operative
where you can discover the olive oil making and taste the result of local
producers work;
- Go on the Fragrance Garden. Here grow more of 200
sorts of plants with aromatic and medicinals perfumes like the lavender,
the thyme and the rosemary ;
- In Nyons city heart, the town historic past is always alive with
the Archeological Museum which shows collections about
human occupation in Nyons from the Prehistory to the Middle Age.
- City dedicated also to arts and crafts and to arts in general,
Nyons propose you going to visit the Zenith Art Gallery
and the craftsmans workshops. It is here, the moment for
a cultural exchange and initiation.
Around Nyons
Le Pays de Nyons, partagée entre le Rhône,
les Alpes et le Mont Ventoux, assure à
chacun une halte paisible en Drôme Provençale.
Au hasard d'un chemin, laissez vous emporter par la force des montagnes
rocheuses et des gorges ou alors préférez la douceur des plantations
fruitières et autres variétés d'orchidées de cette
partie de France préservée.
Les richesses naturelles de la Drôme Provençale révèlent
ici tous leurs secrets pour notre plus grand plaisir.
