Bésignan is considered a small stone village and lies on the slopes of Serre de la Croix de Fer. Several themes come together when planning your trip: the central square overlooking the Ennuye Valley, hikes over mountain passes, the Bodon cliff and the village’s history. You can decide whether your stay will focus mainly on the village, hiking, climbing or traces of the past.
Village Square and Limestone Landscape
The central square offers panoramic views across the Ennuye Valley; a fountain typical of Provence is also located in the square. The views and fountain connect the landscape with the village in one specific place. Near Bésignan, Montagne de Montlaud is characterised by a limestone escarpment rising to 969 metres. Bodon is also a limestone cliff, standing 20 to 25 metres high. These figures refer to different features: the escarpment of Montagne de Montlaud and the height of the cliff at Bodon.
Getting There and Hiking
From Buis-les-Baronnies, you can reach Bésignan via Col d’Ey on departmental road 162. The GRP® “Tour de la vallée de l’Ennuyé” passes through Bésignan and through villages perched on the hillsides, as well as agricultural landscapes. Check the trail conditions before setting out on this route. Another option is the loop starting in Bésignan and passing over Col d’Autanne and Col d’Anjuan; it crosses at least four mountain passes. If you are specifically looking for a hike over mountain passes, this loop gives you a clear route to consider. The GRP®, by contrast, focuses on the villages along the way and the agricultural landscape. The car park for the “Tour du Rocher des Mieyes” hike is near Bésignan church. The GRP®’s landscape, the loop’s sequence of mountain passes and the car park near the church therefore offer different points of reference to help you choose.
Bodon: Cliff and Climbing Area
From the car park, a five-minute walk through a small oak grove takes you to the foot of the cliff. The Bodon climbing area has a total of eight pitches, graded from 6a to 7c+. The five-minute approach describes the route to the foot of the cliff; the number of pitches and grades separately indicate the size and difficulty range of the climbing area. These address different planning questions: how to get to the rock and what characterises the climbing there.
Village History
Bésignan is first mentioned in 1275 under the name “Besignanum”. During the feudal period, the village became a fief of the lords of Mévouillon. The castle associated with Bésignan was destroyed in 1792. The historical details thus refer to different periods: 1275 dates the first mention of the village name, while 1792 marks the destruction of the castle. The fiefdom links the village to the feudal period and is another aspect of its history.
Discover more destinations: Manas, Condorcet, Vesc, Tersanne, Suze-La-Rousse, Piégros-La-Clastre, Montjoux, Saint-Roman
For the full travel guide: Drôme.
