We have almost reached the Rhone again at Montlimar, heading west(ish) today on our roundabout route to Geneva. The day started with a steady climb out of Nyons - no longer following the Eygues River, but instead heading along the face of the hills facing towards the Rhone Valley. There are numbers of villages that were fortified in medieval times, some of which retain vestiges of their former walls and towers. In the morning sun, with the clear skies, these were lovely sights. We stopped at Rousset-Les-Vignes briefly, and then stopped at Taulignan and Grignan for a more comprehensive look. There were more opportunities, but there is only so much time! Taulignan still has lots of its original walls, and supporting towers, crowned by a church steeple. The interior of the town is all twisted streets and interesting houses and buildings, constantly repurposed over the years. Grignan is home to a magnificent Renaissance castle atop a rocky outcrop. We arrived 30 minutes before the chateau closed for lunch, so we got a ticket to look around the exterior - this was impressive enough, and we could take our time to appreciate it, and the extensive views more than if we had to rush through the interior. We are still in lavender country, and the smell was in the air for much of the day. Also Mont Ventoux loomed in the distance - from the top of Grignan the mountain’s isolation is evident, as it stands west of the Alps. We had our usual picnic lunch at Grignan, then headed northwest towards Montelimar, crossing over a range of hills to get there. We could see wind turbines on the hills ahead of us, and the strong winds we slogged against for the rest of the day’s ride showed that they were erected in the right place! At long last we crested the high point, and had a long downhill run into Montelimar, passing other picturesque villages and photogenic ruins on the way. A quick look at central Montelimar was all we had time for at the end of this day’s riding and touring. Right at the moment, central Montelimar is undergoing major renovations in the streets and squares, so the town is not at its best. I am sure that on completion the town centre will look marvellous!