Holiday in the Ardèche-Drôme: La Deviniere

I still have to get back into the blogging game (mind in holiday-mode), but I still have vacation pictures to share. Today I'm going to talk about the lovely Bed and Breakfast we stayed at: La Devinière in Donzère. I found the BnB through google via Booking.com when looking for a place with a pool and wifi in the Ardèche region. Since this was the very first time my boyfriend and I would be taking a holiday abroad together, I didn't want to go to just any old place. I'm a perfectionist, you know. This holiday became my project and I tasked myself with picking the perfect Chambre D'Hotes. Turns out, I did. 

pictures via Booking.com

Breakfast was served on the porch, which was also the only communal area of the BnB except for the outdoor areas (pool, gardens, various terraces). The entire property was very well maintained and spacious, located on a beautiful wooded hill. Dinner was offered on demand for an extra fee and tasted just as excellent and fresh as the breakfast. I usually went for nut-raisin bread with cheese in the morning, along with a glass of grapefruit juice. Apparently, grapefruit is a very popular ingredient in the Ardèche-Drôme region, probably because the bitter taste is so refreshing when served chilled. During our stay we also came across grapefruit ice cream and grapefruit-rosé wine drinks (my fave).

last two shots via Booking.com

We stayed in la suite du Rouge-Gorge which had a comfortable bed and an en suite bathroom. The only thing I missed was a cupboard, drawers or shelves to put some stuff away during our stay, but that really is the smallest of complaints. Being up on a hill in the midst of a forest meant perfect peace and quiet all day everyday. Just imagine lying in your bed in your lover's arms, knowing you have no reason whatsoever to get out of bed early, and hearing nothing at all except the wind blowing through the trees. Heaven.

t-shirt: boyfriend's - shorts: vintage Levi's - straw hat: H&M - sandals: Birkenstock (yeah, forever the last one to jump on the trend bandwagon. No regrets, SO comfortable)

And of course, there was the pool. Perfectly blue, long enough to swim laps in and lined with comfortable pool chairs. Our typical day looked like this: get up when ready, shower, eat breakfast, leave on a day trip through beautiful sunny France, return around 4-5pm and lounge around the pool until it was time to go out for a late night dinner. God it sucks to be back.

It's pretty great to experience life at its most perfect, though. Even if it's just for a few days a year.

Some last practical info: Alain, the gracious host, speaks perfect French, English and Dutch and knows the area like no other. If you ever stay at La Devinière, be sure to try his tips on must-visit markets, towns and restaurants.

More info at La Devinière's official website.

You can read my other France posts here: 
- Donzère and Viviers
- Marché Provençale de Nyons and le Mont Ventoux
- Balazuc and the Ardèche