Gigondas

Nestling beneath its church at the bottom of the magnificent Dentelles de Montmirail mountains is Gigondas. This lovely old village in southern Rhone is perfectly situated to make the most of its surrounding countryside and abundance of vineyards, where more than five million bottles of wine are sold to the market every year - predominately red, with a very small amount of rosé. Arriving in Gigondas through the lower part of the village there is a number of welcoming cafes and cellars leading up to the Place Gabriel Andéol. In the central square, there are even more terrace cafes. Then, take a walk around the narrow streets, taking in the traditional stone houses and the 17th-century Church of St Catherine of Alexandria with its central clock tower. Marvel at the ancient fortifications and ramparts of the old village, and the ruins of the castle of the Princess of Orange with its panoramic views across the lush countryside.