Brigitte and Martin Kesselring are tied by a very long love story to this corner of the country, which is not Provence yet, but has all the same softness.

A holiday story that actually started in Ardèche for this teaching couple originally from Berne in Switzerland. An increasingly regular rendezvous that made parting more difficult each time. Then there was the shock of the Drôme. A mild shock but nonetheless impossible to overcome. The breathtaking scenery, moulded by the wind and rivers, the lavender and its heady perfume and vines on espaliers. And so this holiday romance turned into a life story.

In 1995, it was love at first sight for a traditional but at the same time completely dilapidated drômoise farm. The Kesselrings bought it before mobilizing family and friends to renovate and transform it. Today the house has regained its charm. The Kesselrings finally settled there two years ago and accommodate not only those who helped them but also all visitors who are interested in sharing this beautiful story and discovering their little corner of paradise.

Contact and information: www.centrelaplaine.com
What to do in Drôme ? Click here

Owned by the Marquis de Rochegude until 1945, the building has a thousand year old history. The earliest mention in the Roman archives is from the third century AD. The site was of strategic importance, as it offered a bird's eye view of the Rhone Valley. The Popes, when they were based in Avignon in the 14th century, were in charge of administering justice.  The Huguenot chiefs, being less civilized, had practically destroyed the castle before being driven off by peasants who threw beehives at them from the tops of the ramparts. This, incidentally, is the origin of the Carré d'Abeilles which is depicted on the coat of arms, next to the doves of peace.

It wasn't until the end of the reign of Louis XIV and his bellicose velleity that the Château was rebuilt around the remains of the unique 11th century tower. It took on its present shape and its slightly Trianon look, including the gypseries, which were created by the same artists that Marie-Antoinette used. Its military background long forgotten, the Château today offers four star boarding and lodging in the middle of a park where deer and doe gambol. And the only thing left to supervise down below from this rocky piton is the ripening of the vines that produce the heady Côtes du Rhône... which goes well with truffle of course, the famous black diamond of Tricastin. 

Contact and information: www.chateauderochegude.com
Ideas to discover the Drôme region: http://www.ladrometourisme.com
Photo: Château de Rochegude

Inside, four uncluttered but welcoming rooms, decorated using a combination of raw materials and soft tones. Designed by Pierre-Emmanuel Garotin and Stéphane Garotin, managers of the Lyon boutique Hand. Not a random choice as Stéphane Garotin is the brother of Brigitte Ballet, who along with her husband, Jean-Jacques, is the owner of the Bergerie.

A (great) family story, where, after a trip around the world, the couple and their six children set their sights on this building after it was fixed by Brigitte's architect father. The result is haven of calm and friendliness, a table d'hote where Brigitte serves a hearty all-fresh provencal meal, a newly built SPA and themed weekends.

Contact et informations: www.labergeriedefeline.com

Brigitte et Jean-Jacques Ballet
Les Charles
F - 26460 Truinas
Tél./Fax : +33 (0)4 75 49 12 78 ou +33 (0)6 73 26 53 94

Photo: La Bergerie La Féline

Suggested activities around the Bergerie: