Visit the Ardèche when on holiday in France

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When driving to your holiday home in the Provence or Languedoc region, you will pass through the Ardèche department. It is worth visiting this beautiful region on either your outward or return journey. Be sure to visit this region for at least a day! The Ardèche department with its capital Privas is named after the river that flows through it and is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Well-known villages are Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, Balazuc, Labeaume, Vogüé and many others. The Ardèche is popular due to its beautiful nature. The Gorges d'Ardèche, a rock gorge, is impressive and the Monts d'Ardèche Natural Park and the Bois de Païolive are popular areas for hiking or cycling. The Aven d'Orgnac cave system is one of the many caves in the Ardèche department and attracts many visitors, so do the castles, waterfalls, vineyards and lavender fields. The most emblematic point of the Ardèche is the Pont d'Arc, the natural rock bridge over the Ardèche river.

Visit touristic villages during your holiday

The Ardèche is home to many pretty touristic villages, each with their own charm, atmosphere, attraction or unique location. Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is popular during the holidays with nice shops and boutiques, cozy terraces and lively squares. This village is also home to the Pont d'Arc, the huge rock with a hole in it through which the river flows, a natural bridge. The town of Jaujac, with its castles, narrow streets and old houses, is also popular among visitors. It is located at the foot of the Tanargue, near the Parc Naturel Régional de Monts d'Ardèche with its beautiful waterfalls. The village of Balazuc is located on the Ardèche river. It is a medieval village built against the rock face and has narrow, steep streets, stone arches and cozy squares. The village of Labeaume is also built against a rock and it has a castle on top of the rock. In July a music festival is held here. Labeaume is also known for the 142 dolmen in the area and it is a great place to go hiking. Chalencon is a village with characteristic medieval houses and it is located in Ardèche’s wine region. Saint-Montan is a charming village with cobbled streets, characteristic houses and numerous historical sites such as the Saint-Michel chapel. There are many hiking trails which start from this village and visit spots such as the Gorges d'Ardèche and the Cévennes. Soyons is a great place to visit for history-lovers, many relics of antiquity can be found in the Musée Archéologique or the caves of "Trou de Renard". The village of Banne is beautifully situated in the valley, with a ruined castle, Romanesque church and an area where you can walk. Other beautiful villages are Désaignes, Antraigues-sur-Volane, Vogüé, Berrias-et-Casteljau, Rochecolombe, Largentière, Mirabel and Ruoms.

Villages in the Ardèche

Vallon-Pont d’Arc
Aubenas
Privas
Balazuc
Viviers
Thueyts
Annonay
Joyeuse
Vogüé
Labeaume
Jaujac
Chalencon
Banne
Ruoms
Antraigues-sur-Volane
Saint-Montan
Soyons

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Gorges de l’Ardèche

The Gorges de l'Ardèche between Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche is one of the most beautiful in France and a popular attraction during the holidays. The Ardèche river flows through this gorge. There are various ways to visit this gorge. Some rent a canoe or kayak and paddle through the gorge, there are sandy beaches along the water where you can stop for a picnic. Others go by foot and go for a walk. There is also a touristic route that you can drive by car. This road trip is 40km long, but because there is so much to see along the way and there will be a lot of stops, it is wise to set aside a few hours for it. During the holidays, this route can be quite crowded. Because the road is a lot higher than the river and the bottom of the gorge you can enjoy beautiful views. The beginning of the gorge is at the Pont d'Arc. Along the way there are several caves such as Chauvet and Madeleine. At Belvédère du Serre de Tourre you have a beautiful view. The most beautiful place to stop is Balcon des Gorges des Templars, this is where the river bends.

Canoeing on the Ardèche river

The river Ardèche flows through the Ardèche department. The river is very popular among canoers as it is the most popular way to explore the river and its surroundings. In many places you can rent a canoe or kayak. Most of these rentals will provide you with a waterproof barrel for your belongings and will take you upstream so that you can paddle with the current. A unique experience when canoeing on the river is to pass under the Pont d'Arc. There are both easy routes and routes right through the gorge with several rapids. The difference between a canoe and a kayak is that the canoe is open and the kayak is closed and only has an entry hole. A kayak also has a double-bladed paddle and the canoe does not. The canoe is often a bit wider and therefore more stable, but therefore goes a little slower.

Pont d'Arc over the Ardèche river

When looking at pictures of the Ardèche river, you will instantly see the famous Pont d'Arc. Over the years, it has become the symbol of the Ardèche. This is reinforced by the fact that the Pont d'Arc is also the starting point of the Gorges de l'Ardèche. The large arch in this rock is 59m wide and 34m tall and has been eroded by the different water levels in the river. The village that is located there is also named after it: Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. There is a sandy beach on the river in the summer when the water is low, the perfect spot to cool off for a while. Canoes pass under the rock while people take photos from the beach. If you want to take a really nice photo of Pont d'Arc, go a little further into the gorge, here you will be higher and you will have an even more beautiful view of the Pont d'Arc.

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Caves in the Ardèche

The Ardèche is known for its large number of caves. Visiting caves is always a great thing to do when on holiday. Some caves even have trains which allow you to enter far into the cave without difficulty. The Caves of Chauvet have murals that are still in original condition and are on the Unesco World Heritage List. Visitors can visit a replica of this. One of the longest and most beautiful caves in Europe is the caves of Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche. These caves have unique illuminated water basins and a wine cellar. The cave system of Aven-d'Orgnac with stalactite stones is also well-known. It is considered one of the most important landmarks in France and therefore bears the "Grand Site de France" seal of approval. There is a large alluvial fan from materials that ended up in the cave. The hall in the cave has a length of 125m long and a height of 35m. You descend with 700 steps to 120m below sea level, after which you go back up with an elevator. In the Grotte de Madeleine there are beautiful stalactite formations and stone waterfalls. A sound and light show makes it extra special. Other caves include the Grotte de la Cocalière (the Diamond Cave), Grotte de la Marzal, Grotte de la Forestière, Grotte des Tunnels and Grotte des Huguenots.

Castles in the Ardèche

In addition to its beautiful nature, the Ardèche is also known for its castles. Some are located on a rock, others in the woods or a village. You can get special castle routes at the Tourist Office. The village of Vogüé is home to Château Vogüé, which has been owned by the Vogüé family since 1603. The castle is open to visitors and regularly hosts exhibitions. Château Montréal is located near Largentière and was built in the 12th century. This castle organises demonstrations of swordsmanship, bow and arrow shooting and folk dancing. The children can also give these activities a go with the help of staff who are dressed in medieval clothing. Château Aubenas, which was built in the 12^th century, lies in the centre of the old town of Aubenas. Château de Ventadour has been restored after being nearly completely destroyed in the French Revolution. It is open to the public. Château Rochebonne lies on the top of a mountain. Even though only the ruins are visible, the castle is definitely worth a visit seen as it also has beautiful views over the valley of Eyrieux.

Nature reserves in the Ardèche

There are several nature reserves in the Ardèche such as the Gorges de l'Ardèche and the Monts d'Ardèche. The Monts d'Ardèche is 180,000 hectares in size and has a very diverse landscape. You will find the Mont Gerbier de Jonc, a mountain with a height of 1550m, in this nature reserve. This is a great place for hiking. A cable car goes to the top from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, The highest mountain in the Ardèche is Mont Mézenc which has a height of 1753m. It is located on the border with the Haute-Loire. On a clear day, even Mont Blanc is visible from here. In the south of the Ardèche lies "Bois de Païolive", a forest with many green trees and special rock formations. These rock formations attract many tourists. In the Ardèche there are various waterfalls such as the Cascade du Ray – Pic and Cascade Rochecolombe. The water of Ray – Pic falls from a height of 60m down a path created by lava flow. Rochecolombe is clearly visible from the village of Rochecolombe. There are several hiking trails around the falls. Ardèche also has vineyards.