Walking across the Drôme, the Huguenot Way part 1 & 2

Arrival late afternoon.
Visit to the lovely old village.
See the Musée du Protestantisme, created in 1961, which details the great periods of Protestantism in the Dauphiné.
Dinner and night in a guesthouse in the old village.

22km, total uphill 750 m (level 4/5) - duration about 7hrs00
This often shaded leads you along the old road which once linked Poët-Laval and Dieulefit through the forest of Vitrouillères.
You cross the town of Dieulefit, renowned for its potters and pottery. The GR9 (GR is 'grande randonnée' - long distance footpath) follows the flanks of the mountain of Ventes to bring you to the Church of Comps. Then you go along a bridle path beneath the trees, along the Comps plateau and up to the Col (pass) de Bouitière. The day's walking ends with a downhill stretch which descends gently to Bourdeaux.

Dinner and night in 2 épis guesthouse in the old centre.

12,7 km with total uphill 815 metres. (Level 4/5) - duration about 5hrs
The route today has an impressive uphill element. First you come to the Crête de la Tour, then on a more level part along the hillside to the gîte de Fonderesse. After a stretch which descends slightly, you come to the Col du Gourdon with another steady uphill part. Finally, before the Col de la Chaudière, you come to your guesthouse in a quite unspoilt natural setting.

Dinner and night in guest house, in the middle of the countryside.

13,7 km with total uphill 200 metres. (Level 2/5) - duration about 3hrs30
From the foot of the Trois Becs ('3 beaks' mountain), you'll walk on to the Col du Perrier along a gentle slope. A second stretch downhill brings you to the charming village of Saint Benoît-en-Diois.
Here, you may like to go down to the river Roanne and enjoy a splash in its turquoise waters.

Dinner and night in a guest house in the heart of the beautiful Roanne Valley.

You will be taken down to Pontaix from Saint Benoît at 09.00 hours.
In Pontaix, you can visit the 'temple' (protestant church), saved from demolition because it 'reconverted' to catholicism before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

19 km with total uphill 380 metres. (Level 3/5) - duration about 5hrs30
This last stage, with milder changes in altitude than others, leads you to the Col de Vachères, then down to the pretty village of Sainte-Croix through part of the forest of Saint Genix. Afterwards you walk alongside the river Drôme (maybe take a dip?) all the way to Die, splendid little borough that has the personality of a Dauphiné town and
the colours of Provence.
Le circuit de visite de Die will tell you more about its long history.

Dinner and night in a hostelry in Die.

1st option: Die - Châtillon en Diois, 19 km with 1400 m uphill (difficulty 4/5) - duration about 6hrs30
2nd option: taxi transfer from Die to Valcroissant, followed by 11 km walk to Châtillon en Diois with 800 m uphill (difficulty 3/5) - duration about 4hrs
On this fine walk you will see Notre Dame de Valcroissant, a 12th century Cistercian abbey listed as a historic monument in 1971. Peacefully situated beside the eponymous mountain stream, the abbey is a haven of calm surrounded by greenery at the foot of the impressive cliffs of the Glandasse.

Dinner at the restaurant, night in guest house.

Option 1: Châtillon en Diois - Les Nonnières via the village of Menée: 18 km - 1250 m total uphill - Difficulty 4/5 - duration about 6hrs10
Option 2: Châtillon en Diois - Les Nonnières via Archiane: 11km - 1250 m total uphill -Difficulty 4/5 - duration about 5hrs
A walk along a deep cornice path around the Cirque (corrie) d'Archiane which borders the southern limestone plateau of the Glandasse mountain at the extreme south of the Vercors range. Here is a world of impressive height, with ocre, pink and grey rocks lending colour to the needles, filigree, and bold cliffs. The attractive village of Les Nonnières was a thoroughfare for the Huguenots.

Dinner and night at the 2 star hotel with pool.

Breakfast followed by taxi transfer to Poet laval, departure.