As the story goes…
A legendary soldier, Gaspard de Sterimberg, returns home from battle in the 13th century. Injured and distraught by the things he witnessed during the Crusades, he requested from the queen a peaceful sanctuary. He was granted a small, humble church on a hill in the Rhone Valley where he would spend the rest of his days as a hermit. He began planting vines along the hillside and developed not only a rich, full bodied red but also a rich culture of wine making on the hillside. To this day, the vines are tended by hand, cared for with strict tradition, and the resulting wines are evidence of the care that’s taken. This 320+ acre region, named “Ermitage” in honor of Gaspard the hermit, is now tended by 20-30 main winemakers carrying on the tradition. If you only have one day in Tournon-sur-Rhone this sight is a must see!
The Hike:
The Tain-l’Hermitage hike itself is not necessarily for the faint of heart. The first viewpoint is reachable by a well maintained path, doable by most activity levels. This leg of the trip is 2.2 miles and only 130m of elevation gain. The chapel, however, is another 1.8 miles of steep uphill through the vines. The path can be slippery and have some steep drop offs to be aware of. Check the weather and your walking shoes prior to heading out. The view of the Rhone Valley from the top is just incredible! Well worth the adventurous trek through the hillside. You will see the fork in the Rhône, the city of Tournon laid out beneath you, and of course, the chapel. A very modest home but radiating with its humble origins.
Chocolate of Tournon-Sur-Rhone:
After the hike to Hermitage we made a stop at Valrhona chocolate. From silky smooth to dark and bitter and everything in between! Valrhona has been creating chocolate since 1922, building relationship with cocoa producers to improve and sustain the cocoa industry while creating phenomenal chocolate! Walking into the store you’re immediately greeted with a chocolate sample while you absorb a Willy Wonka amount of chocolate variation! Not only the pre-packaged pieces and boxes and bars, but also an entire case of VIP selections running nearly the entire length of the store. I bought a box with a variety of chocolates inside. When I got home we were able to do a chocolate tasting with the kids! They loved it!
Tournon: The City
Tournon itself, due to the Cruise schedule, was mostly left unexplored on this trip. Compared to the previous ports along the Rhone Valley, this stop is certainly more city. Rather than walking through quaint, quiet cobblestones you’ll be walking on narrow sidewalks beside bustling streets. That being said, between the traffic you can spot remnants of the town’s medieval origins: castles, stone walls carved into beautiful pieces of art, traditional cafes, we’re still in France after all! A different feel but still a beautiful stop nonetheless.
