Die in France

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briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Apologies for the title of the thread, but it's irresistible. Die is a little-known Gallo-Romano town in the foothills of the Alps in south east France. It's cycling heaven, and I'm lucky enough to have a little house there. I've spent my first summer there, and in case anyone else is interested in discovering the area, I'm doing an occasional blog: http://unanglaisendiois.blogspot.com. Nothing earth-shattering, but a few nice pictures, and stuff that might interest you if you are interested in or like cycling in France.

In particular, I've started posting the routes in the area that I've done, and I'd be delighted if anyone's in the area and wants to try any of these routes. I promise you that you won't be disappointed: the roads and scenery are quite stunning (though keep it to yourself, as it's quite nice that the area generally isn't well known.)

Die is hardly known in France itself, and the town is nicely bohemian. The Rough Guide to France describes it as a town not worth visiting unless you've got time to kill - I'll admit it hasn't got any honey-pot tourist attractions - and that's one of the things that makes it even more attractive: it's a place for people to live, not for tourists to visit for a couple of hours or for souvenir shops. One thing to note - it's pretty much taken over by people from Holland in the summer, and there are hardly any English-speaking people: you'll need some French, or good miming skills to communicate with the locals. And if you do have some French, the locals won't sneer at you and reply in English if it's imperfect, in the way Parisians will.
 

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
That's not far from the Rhone IIRC. Cycled that way a good number of years back - we spent a somewhat alcoholic week going from Lyons to Avignon.
I currently have nascent plans to do a week going round the Luberon next year.
 
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briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
That's not far from the Rhone IIRC. Cycled that way a good number of years back - we spent a somewhat alcoholic week going from Lyons to Avignon.
I currently have nascent plans to do a week going round the Luberon next year.
Yup, about 60km to the left (if you're travelling south), and that's the thing - as you're on the Rhône you have little idea of the delights not far away. It certainly sounds like you spent rather more time drinking than riding, as I managed this in a day last year: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1602614
 

deptfordmarmoset

Full time tea drinker
Location
Armonmy Way
Here's great slogan for the bureau touristique:

Come to the Drôme and Die!

I had a partner who worked for a while in Die. It's in the Vercors, isn't it?
 
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briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Here's great slogan for the bureau touristique:

Come to the Drôme and Die!

I had a partner who worked for a while in Die. It's in the Vercors, isn't it?
It's just south of the wonderful Vercors plateau, but is officially in the Vercors 'Parc régional'. Being where it is, it is sheltered from the weather that catches the plateau, and benefits from a Mediterranean climate. Same rainfall as Exeter, roughly, but 800 hours more of sunshine per year. That's about 50% more!
 
Ah lovely Die, been there 3 times, camped at nice campsite down by the river. Once when I was there a sheep festival was going on and everyone in the town was in party mood. It is also the start of one of my favourite climbs the Col de Rousset, a challenging but manageable zigzagging climb.
 
Jealous. Some (French) have an old farmhouse a mile or so from Crest and the mountains along the Die valley are spectacular, but never cycled. Only connection this year is buying 12 bottles of Clairette (Jaillance) for ~60 euros while the kids were at Disneyland (Paris). Even cheaper than buying them in Die, although the scenery isn't as good.
 
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briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Jealous. Some (French) have an old farmhouse a mile or so from Crest and the mountains along the Die valley are spectacular, but never cycled. Only connection this year is buying 12 bottles of Clairette (Jaillance) for ~60 euros while the kids were at Disneyland (Paris). Even cheaper than buying them in Die, although the scenery isn't as good.
What's nice about driving in from Crest is that in the space of 20 miles the scenery goes from OK to stunning - it's probably one reason that Die isn't more well known, as it's only when you get there that you realise how beautiful the area is. You need to spend some time exploring round it though to see all the riches.

Jaillance is the 'industrial' producer of Clairette - it's probably OK, but I had some stunning stuff by this smaller producer: http://www.cavebautin.com/. I can imagine that if you're into fizz you could have some fun days visiting the many local 'caves' and sampling their wares.
 

rich p

ridiculous old lush
Location
Brighton
I've done the Vercours down to Die. Lovely area.
One of my favourite touring climbs was the minor road from Recoubeau-Jansac to Remuzat which must be pretty close to you Brian.
 
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briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
One of my favourite touring climbs was the minor road from Recoubeau-Jansac to Remuzat which must be pretty close to you Brian.
I've only done it downwards on a descent from the Col de Pennes. (I've also done the descent through Barnave, which I think would also make a nice ascent.) The only 'disappointment' with the Col de Pennes is that whichever way you go up, the descent is not going to be super fast, as the roads are too narrow and sketchy to allow you to let go properly ... but the scenery is good compensation. The Col de la Chaudière is similar heading north - a bit too steep and bendy for full enjoyment (though it's fun road, and the descent going south has some really good stretches).

EDIT - forgetting where Remuzat is. Yes, nice area down there - I went through Remuzat on my way back from Rosans - up through La Motte Chalançon and back over to Luc-en-Diois. Yes, very pleasant roads indeed, and a nice climb from Luc-en-Diois. If you went up from Recoubeau, I'm guessing you did Col de Pennes & St Nazaire-le-Désert.
 
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briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Ah yes, that's the ascent from Luc-en-Diois - very nice, and a good descent down to La Charce, especially if you've got a tailwind! I haven't done the bit past Remuzat, so you're one up on me there. It's a corner I'll be exploring a bit more as time goes on, though it's at the limit of what I'll be able to do in a day's round trip from my house.
 
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