Montguers is a green municipality surrounded by mountains and crossed by the Ouvèze. Lavender is its main crop. Two hamlets, traditionally restored stone houses and crafts centred on plant dyes add concrete local and cultural features to this landscape. You can get to know the place from several perspectives: its layout, local traditions, craftsmanship and the named landscape destinations.

Between Two Hamlets

Montguers consists of the hamlets of Bas-Montguers and Haut-Montguers, separated by the church. A stone fountain stands in the centre of Bas-Montguers. The stone houses have been traditionally restored and give the village a typically Provençal appearance. The church’s location explains the village’s division into two parts; the fountain anchors Bas-Montguers within this layout, while the houses shape its architectural character. Together, these features give a concrete picture of the village’s layout and character.

Lavender and Routes Through the Landscape

The Lavender Route passes through Montguers before climbing to the Col de Peyruergue. Along the route, Montguers is at kilometre 94.4 on the D65 towards St Auban-sur-l’Ouvèze. Montguers can also be reached via the D65 departmental road. These route details and the access road provide different points of reference: they show the village’s position along the route and how to reach Montguers by road.

The “La Croix de Roussieux et La Clavelière” hike offers views of the Eygues Valley, the peaks of the Vercors, the Alpine range, Mont Ventoux, Mount Chamouse and the Ouvèze Valley. The named destinations range from valleys and mountain peaks to individual mountains. This gives the hike a distinct landscape focus alongside the village’s features. Lavender, Montguers’ main crop, adds a concrete agricultural dimension to the picture.

Plant Dyes at the Old Mill

L’Herbier à Couleur is housed in an old mill in 26170 Montguers. At the workshop, visitors can work with plant-based dyes and try traditional and ecological craft techniques. The programme includes workshops for all visitors on dye plants, indigo and plant-based ink, with a historical introduction and hands-on activities. The workshop thus combines the history of dye plants with practical work and explores several aspects of plant-based colours.

Visits to the dye garden are offered seasonally from July to September. If this visit is an important part of your trip, plan around this time period. The garden and workshop offer different ways to explore the subject: the garden focuses on visiting the dye plants, while the workshops involve practical work with plant-based dyes.

Local Traditions and Surviving Traces

According to local tradition, an old village was built above Montguers and abandoned in the 16th century. Ruins remain at the site of this former upper village, including what appears to be the ruin of a church. The dating comes from local tradition, while the surviving ruins connect the site to the former village. The Église Saint-Arnoux is also a sight in Montguers.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Martin-En-Vercors, Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence, Mérindol-Les-Oliviers, Beaumont-En-Diois, Propiac, Livron-Sur-Drôme, Marsanne, Truinas

For the regional travel overview: Drôme.