Diois

The Diois is a mountain region in the Drôme department with limestone peaks stretching from Saillans to Col de Rousset. The landscape comprises multiple valleys with natural caves and reaches heights of around 2000 meters at its highest points.

The area was inhabited in ancient times by the Vocontii, a Gallic people who adapted to Roman rule. Their main settlement, Die, became known as Civitas Diensis and remained significant throughout the Roman period.

Local communities have long depended on sheep herding and cultivating aromatic herbs like lavender and thyme across the slopes. These farming practices shape how villages are organized and how people interact with the landscape today.

Multiple hiking trails cross the region, linking small valleys and connecting to cave entrances for exploration. Sturdy footwear is essential, and visitors should prepare for changing mountain weather that can shift quickly throughout the day.

The region became a habitat for wild wolves that returned in the 1990s after decades of absence. Alongside Alpine chamois, roe deer, and numerous bird species, this landscape has undergone a natural shift in how predators and prey interact.