Romans and Bourg de Péage, two towns for you to discover
Romans owes its worldwide renown to leatherwork and footwear. It was this high profile that allowed it to develop a commercial tourist industry, reinforced by the arrival of Marques Avenue, the first French factory outlet centre for branded goods. Bourg de Péage, located on the other bank of the Isère is a 3-star “town in bloom”.

It owes its history to the felt hat trade (felt obtained from rabbit skins), which was at its peak in the early 20th century. So much more than just a shopping destination for all the fashionistas, Romans is a town steeped in history and the architectural heritage of its historic centre is a wonder. Around its collegiate church, and along its lanes Romanesque, Italian Renaissance and flamboyant Gothic styles stand together in harmony, the tangible remains of a boom period. Its footwear museum dutifully preserves its memory and presents the history of leather dressing, tanning and footwear.

However, with more than 16,500 items in its collection, it is also a tremendous source of inspiration for the creators of today, whose work it also exhibited. The old town of Bourg de Péage owes its destiny and its name to the presence of the bridge over the Isère, built in the Middle Ages by the Saint Barnard Abbey of Romans, the earliest reference to which dates back to 1033. To cover its upkeep, the canons levied a feudal duty known as a "toll" there on all persons, goods and livestock crossing the bridge. At the heart of the Drôme des Collines hills, Romans and Bourg de Péage are also notable for their quality of life. Together with their gentle lifestyle and the conviviality of their markets, Romans and Bourg de Péage know how to party.

There is the carnival in February, a folklore festival and the “Music in the Park” festival in summer, the ravioli festival at the end of summer, the “Novel(s) in Romans” exhibition in November etc. Allow yourself to be seduced by these two perfectly-located towns, which are exceptionally well-connected to transport networks, with a railway station for high-speed trains, two motorways, the A49 and the A7, and the famous N7 trunk road in the vicinity.See you soon!