Madame de Sévigné: Drôme Provençale celebrates 400 years of its favorite marquise

Madame de Sévigné is first and foremost a love story: that of a mother for her daughter, who left to live in Drôme Provençale after her marriage to the Count of Grignan. Separated from her, the marquise began to write, giving rise to a unique, funny, and touching correspondence that has stood the test of time. Today, her mark can still be felt at the Grignan Castle, where she spent nearly four years of her life. In 2026, the castle will come alive to relive this era, with dramatized tours where you'll meet characters in period costume, lectures on 17th-century gastronomy, and even banquets inspired by her letters, where you can taste dishes as she described them to her daughter.

What we enjoy: The Sévigné vintages, wines created in homage to the marquise, to be tasted during events or at the region's wine estates. A gourmet nod to a woman who knew as much about wine as she did about feelings.

Drôme Provençale is also a generous terroir, where vines flourish under the sun. In 2026, winegrowers will join in the celebration of Sévigné with wine competitions, where local vintages will be tasted in homage to the marquise, as well as guided tastings and literary walks among the rows of vines.

Throughout the year, lovers of literature and fine wines can take part in wine-tasting evenings, combining oenological discoveries with excerpts from Sévigné's correspondence. The villages of Vinsobres, Suze-la-Rousse, and Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues open their doors for blending workshops, hikes through the vineyards, and meetings with artisan winemakers who perpetuate ancestral know-how.

Bonus: A giant dictation and contemporary art exhibitions are planned throughout the year, combining culture, heritage, and modernity. And for food lovers, a symposium dedicated to truffles reminds us that Drôme Provençale is also a land of flavors and traditions.