The only difference between Paradise and Nyons is that in Nyons people are alive -Barjavel

The commune of Nyons, first mentioned in documents from the first century, is in the Drôme Provençale of southern France. Sheltered from the mistral wind by mountains which capture rain, Nyons enjoys more than 2,700 hours of sunlight per year, on par with the French Riviera. It has thereby earned its title of "Petit Nice" and is the ideal place to grow an array of crops, the most famous of which are olives.

The Nyons area is the northern-most olive-growing region in the world; olives have been cultivated here since the 4th century B.C. La perle noire or "the black pearl", as the Tanche varietal of olives is called, has a large pit and a sweet meaty flavor. The olives can be brined, dry-cured, or crushed to make a delicious spread known as tapenade. The Tanche also produces some of the most refined olive oil, which was the first in France to be granted the AOC certification in 1994. As such, the Nyons region prides itself on producing one of the best olive oils in the world. Its 250,000 olive trees produce 400 tons of olives for eating and 200 tons of olive oil per year.

Nyons possesses an embarrassment of natural riches. Located in a region of northern Provence which grows lavender, the town is often bathed in a wonderful lavender scent. Around Nyons, one may also discover many other Provençal herbs like rosemary, thyme, and savory. The wines of Vinsobres, which is a few kilometers to the south, are the finest wines in the area, and less than 20 minutes away is Richerenches, the world capital of truffles. In the east, apricot and cherry trees cover the slopes and valleys of Sainte-Jalle with their delicate flowers and fruits.