Menglon can be explored through several themes: winegrowing in the valley, the history of the former village, and trails around La Grésière. There is also a nature and recreation park and traces of mining. This gives you a choice of different ways to focus your stay, rather than treating all the attractions as one single itinerary.
Landscape and Winegrowing
Menglon lies on alluvial soils at the foot of La Grésière, in a valley between vineyards and walnut groves. This landscape provides a setting for two different interests: those interested in the area’s agricultural character can find specific information about winegrowing here, while hiking enthusiasts can explore the trails around Menglon and La Grésière.
The vineyards cover 80 hectares. Just under 99 percent of this area is designated for AOP wines, including Châtillon en Diois, Clairette de Die and Crémant.
Former Settlement and Mining
The Castrum Menglonis on the summit of Serre des Combes was recognized as an episcopal lordship in 1165. Today, the remains of the former hilltop village of Menglon include retaining walls, sections of the fortification walls, stairs and cellars. The date and the structural remains offer two concrete starting points for exploring the area’s earlier history.
Mining is another historical theme. In the Piémard mines, galena containing lead, as well as zinc blende and calamine, were mined in the late 19th century; the mines closed in 1903. The remains can be explored along the Sentier des mines: visitors can see the ruins of the administrative building, the entrance and a settling basin. Alongside the history of the former lordship, the focus is therefore also on the area’s industrial past and its visible remnants.
Recreation and Trails
Arbo’Magic is a nature and recreation park for families in Menglon. Its attractions include elevated net walkways with nine tree houses, large slides up to 16 metres long, and a sensory barefoot trail. The tree houses are designed to help visitors discover the wildlife of the Vercors. A 40-metre-long underground gallery explores the lives of trees and animals. The net walkways, slides, barefoot trail and gallery offer a variety of activities, each appealing to different interests.
The two hiking routes described here also differ considerably in their character. The family loop Le petit Menglonnais passes through the village of Menglon, between walnut groves and to the fountain in the hamlet of Luzerand. Three playful stops can be visited along the route. The village, groves and fountain provide the loop’s specific landmarks, while the three playful stops add to these connections with the local area.
The La Grésière hiking loop starts in the hamlet of Gallands in Menglon. It is 12 kilometres long, climbs 850 metres and is marked in yellow. Along the way, it passes through a pedestrian tunnel built by reforestation workers and along a section of mountainside equipped with a safety cable. The route reaches a summit meadow with a 360-degree panorama. Different information may therefore be relevant when choosing between the routes: Le petit Menglonnais combines village and hamlet landmarks with its playful stops, while La Grésière is characterized by its length, ascent and the route described here.
Discover more destinations: Eygluy-Escoulin, Le Grand-Serre, Saint-Restitut, Pontaix, Marignac-En-Diois, La Motte-de-Galaure, Ancône, Puygiron.
For the general travel overview: Drôme.
