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With its beautiful countryside and sites of interest, the Ardèche is today a tourist destination that must not be missed.
Besides
Vallon Pont
d'Arc, whose fame has spread beyond the frontiers of Europe, there are numerous other centres of population where you can discover an Ardèche that is magnificent, wild and welcoming...
The locality of
les Vans and the olive growing country,
Joyeuse and the magnificent old streets of the town,
Largentière and its historic monuments, Ruoms close to the gorges of the Ardeche,
Aubenas, situated at the heart of southern Ardèche,
Vals les Bains and its famous thermal springs,
Privas the administrative centre of the département and the marron glacé capital,
Annonay, a centre for hot-air ballooning, Lamastre with its "Le mastrou" tourist train, and Tournon, a lively little market town, will all help you discover the many facets that the département has to offer through its countryside, rivers, caves museums
and, vineyards ...
There is a warm welcome waiting for you from everyone associated with our tourism sector, with the various accommodation and leisure organisations (for
Canoeing/Kayaking, Horseriding,
Quad-biking etc) ready to make your stay in the enticing Ardèche a pleasant one.
Major sites of interest in the Ardèche
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The Gorges of the Ardèche
Between Vallon Pont d'Arc and Saint Martin d'Ardèche, these steeply-sided, wild and impressive gorges stretch over a distance of 35 km. The Gorges of the Ardèche were granted nature reserve status in 1980, and are the result of geological changes that began 110 million years ago.
In these limestone rocks the river Ardèche has carved caverns, grottoes, potholes and canyons, such as la Madeleine and the Pont d'Arc, a superb archway with a 66 metre opening which was granted reserve status in 1982.
A descent of the gorges, through its 25 rapids, is a highlight for canoeists; follow its path on foot, or take the tourist route that overhangs this remarkable area of our natural heritage.
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The Woods of Païolive
Not far from Les Vans, the woods of Païolive, are an amazing forest of petrified rocks and white oak at the heart of the Ardèche cevennes and stretch for over 16
kilometres.
It forms a set of labyrinths produced by erosion which has carved out immense rifts.
The chaotic mix of minerals and vegetation has everywhere given rise to twisted and tortured shapes, true natural sculptures.
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The Waterfall of
Ray-Pic
Granted reserve status in 1931, the waterfall at Ray-Pic falls 60 metres in a beautiful setting of basaltic columns.
The waterfall of Ray Pic can be found on the D 215 between Burzet and Lachamp Raphaël
The La Bourges river rushes through channels of volcanic rock to end up flowing over the remains of a lava flow which is 35,000 years old.
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Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc
The summit can be reached after a half-hour walk, and provides exceptional views.
Mont Gerbier-de-jonc is the source of the Loire.
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The Grotto of Chauvet
Over a hundred caves and potholes are found in the territory covered by the Ardèche. As a result it holds an important place in the origins of mankind.
In the grotto of Chauvet, discovered in 1994, Ardèche has one of the oldest decorated caves in the world, with more than four hundred rock paintings that are 30,000 years old.
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The Wines of the Ardèche
Producing both the vins de pays of the region and the quality appellations controlées wines, (or those that are in the process of obtaining this designation), the vineyards of southern Ardèche exhibit wide diversity.
Wine is now the major agricultural product of the département.
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