Mercurol brings together marked walking trails, winegrowing and heritage. This makes it easy to plan your stay around a clear focus: routes and viewpoints, historic sites or Crozes-Hermitage wines. The landscape also reveals several different facets. The Coteaux et plaines viticoles de Mercurol combine vineyards on the plain and hillsides with gently rolling slopes. Small plots lie among orchards; wooded areas, hedgerows, rows of trees and tree belts are also part of the landscape.

Walking between the river, hillsides and viewpoints

The Mercurol-Veaunes walking trail network includes color-marked circular routes ranging from 2 to 18 kilometers. The trail length provides a first guide when choosing a route; individual trails also have their own views and conditions. Les Hauts de Mercurol is an easy, family-friendly walk through the hillsides of Mercurol. Views include the Tain-l’Hermitage valley, Chanos-Curson and the Château de Conflans. The Tour de Mercurol towers above the walking route. This route is not accessible to strollers.

The La Veaune circular trail starts and ends at the Veaunes community hall parking lot. It follows the Veaune and offers views of the Vercors, the nearby hills, the Rhône and the Ardèche. The circular route takes you to the restored Lavoir de Veaunes, which preserves the history of washerwomen from the past. The 14th-century Église Saint-Étienne is also visible from the La Veaune walking trail.

Towers, churches and historic sites

The Tour de Mercurol is a heritage viewpoint dating from the late 10th century. Its panorama extends from the Rhône Valley to the Vercors mountains. It offers both a view of the landscape and a glimpse into the area's long history. Another historic landmark is the Four Bannaret, which was in operation from 1548 until the end of the 19th century.

The Église Sainte-Anne stands in the village center. Built around 1520, it can be reached by following the uphill Route des Pends. The Chapelle Saint-Pierre also dates from the late 10th century and is located on the Sentier du Patrimoine. Visits take place during Heritage Days; the chapel is also occasionally used as an exhibition space. The Chapelle Saint-Pierre de Marnas was restored by volunteers and inaugurated on September 20, 2008.

Vineyards and Crozes-Hermitage

The Mercurol-Veaunes wine route crosses the municipality and offers a way to discover the local terroirs of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. Along the route, you can walk through vineyards and visit local wine cellars. There, you can learn about the municipality’s wines and their favored terroirs.

One specific wine tour is at Domaine de la Ville Rouge: it lasts an hour and a half and includes the vineyards, the wine cellar and a guided tasting of Crozes-Hermitage wines. Visits are available by prior appointment only. So don’t plan this as a spontaneous stop.

Annual events to help plan your trip

Every June, the Four Panyol is fired up for the Fête du Four et du Pain. A torchlight descent takes place at the Tour de Mercurol every year on December 8. If you’re planning your trip specifically around one of these events, check the current dates in advance. For scheduling, these fixed annual events differ from a visit to the Domaine, which requires an appointment in advance.

Discover more destinations: Chaudebonne, Margès, Saillans, Marsanne, Mirabel-et-Blacons, Luc-En-Diois, Puy Saint Martin, Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert

For the wider travel guide: Drôme.