Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval
Raw art masterpiece. Postman Cheval collected pebbles for 33 years to build this surrealist palace alone — now a listed historic monument.
14 km
18 min
Our surroundings
Threeterritories.One single starting point.
The Bergerie sits at the centre of a rare triangle: the Drôme des Collines at our feet, the Vercors to the east, the great Rhône vintages to the west. Here is what we recommend to our guests, in order of surprise.
When to come?Every month
Every month
has its reason.
The seasons here are not decorative: they dictate what we harvest, what we drink, and whether the pool is heated. Here is our unofficial calendar.
April
Courts in great shape, padel & tennis from 8am. Ideal temperatures to play all day.
May
Heated pool from mid-May. Perfect club camps — not too hot, not too cold.
June
First warm nights, evening tournaments. Cycling in the Vercors at weekends.
July
High sports season. Pool at 27 °C, pétanque at sunset. Book early.
August
Family & club stays. Long days, night matches under the stars.
Sept.
Ideal for sports retreats: fewer people, free courts, grape harvest next door.
October
Golden season for teams. Fresh air, immaculate courts, off-season rates.
Nov.
Team-building seminars. Padel under the Drôme sun, pool closed.
Dec.
Skiing 50 min away (Vercors), log fire in the evenings. Winter retreats in small groups.
January
Quiet estate, reduced prices. Tennis & padel always available.
February
Low, soft light. Pre-season physical preparation camps.
March
Sports season restart. Courts ready before anyone else. Book for summer.
ITerritory i
Drôme des Collines
« Gentle hills, perched villages and the Ideal Palace of the Postman Cheval. Our immediate neighbourhood. »
Montélimar Nougat — Arnaud Soubeyran
Artisan factory, live visit with tasting. Almonds from Provence, lavender honey.
62 km
52 min
Royans Ravioles — Saint-Jean-en-Royans
The genuine IGP ravioles, to take away or enjoy in the plateau inns. Made with fresh cheese and parsley.
28 km
32 min
IITerritory ii
The Vercors
« A limestone fortress plateau. Skiing in winter, cycling in summer, silence all year. »
Mont Aiguille — the inaccessible mountain
First ascent in the 15th century by royal order. Hiking trail at its base, breathtaking views.
58 km
68 min
Cycling in the Vercors — marked routes
Over 500 km of marked trails, from flat family rides to technical mountain passes. Bike rental in Villard-de-Lans, maps available at the Bergerie.
45 km
55 min
Skiing at Villard-de-Lans
Family resort at 1,050 m. Day pass €34, rental on site, 125 km of alpine + Nordic pistes.
68 km
80 min
IIITerritory iii
The Vineyards
« Northern Côtes du Rhône. Syrah, viognier, and the mythical Hermitage hill. »
Cave de Tain — AOC Hermitage
The historic cooperative. Tastings of Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Hermitage. Shop, views over the slopes.
24 km
28 min
Valrhona Chocolate — Cité du Chocolat
Museum and workshop of the high-end chocolatier in Tain-l'Hermitage. Children's workshops, factory shop.
24 km
28 min
Rhône Valley — Saint-Péray, Cornas
Family estates, little-known AOCs. Visit by appointment, the winemaker opens the door himself.
38 km
42 min
A word from the hosts
« Don't plan everything. Leave two afternoons free. That's where you find the best detours, the cheese farm at the end of a path, the winemaker who opens their door. »
Stéfan, host
Plan your stay
around a season.
Tell us what you want to see and we'll suggest the Saturdays that match — along with the routes we'd take in your place.