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Wild Ardèche: between nature, ancient stones, and heritage

Breathing in Ardèche means feeling the warm stone, the wind descending from the gorges, and the clear water stretching between the cliffs. Here, nature tells everything: caves hold traces of the earliest artists, villages nestle against the rocks, and bridges have connected the shores for centuries. Ardèche is not just a landscape; it’s an experience. We walk, climb, pedal, and marvel at the shapes water has carved into the stone. The Pont d’Arc, the Chauvet Cave, the deep gorges, the twisted woods of Païolive—all exude a raw, honest beauty. Between hikes, a hot chocolate in Tain, a castle visit, or a swim remind us that the real wealth here is the time we take.

Pont d'Arc

Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, France

Pont d'Arc

Limestone geological formation created by erosion from the Ardèche River. The arch is 54 meters high and 60 meters wide.

Chauvet Cave

Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, France

Chauvet Cave

Discovered in 1994, it retains over a thousand paintings on its walls dating back 36,000 years. Bison, lions, bears… images from a former world, full of life.

Lavender Museum

Saint-Remèze, France

Lavender Museum

In Saint-Remèze, this museum smells of Provence. Stills, tools, fields of blue as far as the eye can see: an immersion in the fragrant history of Ardèche lavender.

Valrhona Chocolate City

Tain-l'Hermitage, France

Valrhona Chocolate City

Discovery center dedicated to chocolate, showcasing production stages, with tasting workshops and exhibition areas.

Prehistory City

Orgnac-l'Aven, France

Prehistory City

Research center and museum presenting archaeological collections from the Paleolithic to the Bronze Age in Ardèche.

Gorges of the Ardèche

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Gorges of the Ardèche

Limestone geological formation carved by the Ardèche River between Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche, with cliffs 300 meters high.

Mont Gerbier de Jonc

Ardèche, France

Mont Gerbier de Jonc

Volcanic mountain standing at 1551 meters in the Massif Central. The Loire rises here from three springs.

Peaugres Safari

Peaugres, France

Peaugres Safari

80-hectare zoological park hosting 1200 animals of 128 different species, featuring both walkable paths and a car circuit.

Païolive Woods

Les Vans, France

Païolive Woods

16 km² forest area composed of white oaks and limestone rocks forming natural labyrinths.

Vivarais Train

Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, France

Vivarais Train

Between Saint-Jean-de-Muzols and Lamastre, the old train whistles in the Doux Valley. Steam, tunnels, and viaducts: a journey to the rhythm of the past.

Ray-Pic Waterfall

Péreyres, France

Ray-Pic Waterfall

In Péreyres, the Bourges River drops 60 meters among basalt columns. The place is wild, resonant, and magnificent.

Cocalière Cave

Courry, France

Cocalière Cave

1-kilometer underground network with limestone formations, a river, and prehistoric remains, accessible via guided tours.

Doux Gorge Vélorail

Boucieu-le-Roi, France

Doux Gorge Vélorail

Pedaled rail on an old railway line, offering four circuits ranging from 8 to 20 kilometers.

Crussol Castle

Saint-Péray, France

Crussol Castle

Remains of a 12th-century fortress built on a rocky promontory overlooking the Rhône Valley at an altitude of 400 meters.

Balazuc Village

Balazuc, France

Balazuc Village

11th-century medieval town built on a rocky spur, featuring fortifications, a keep, a castle, and cobbled streets.

Balmes de Montbrun

Saint-Gineys-en-Coiron, France

Balmes de Montbrun

Network of dwellings carved into volcanic rock, evidencing human habitation since the Middle Ages.

Vogüé

Vogüé, France

Vogüé

Medieval village built on rocks. The castle dates back to the 11th century and overlooks the old houses connected by vaulted passages.

Saint-Marcel Cave

Bidon, France

Saint-Marcel Cave

57-kilometer underground network with calcite formations, gours, and concretions. Guided tours focus on geology and history.

Aubenas Castle

Aubenas, France

Aubenas Castle

12th-century fortress with guardroom, decorated chambers, and a tower offering a view over the Ardèche Valley.

Beaume Gorge

Ruoms, France

Beaume Gorge

Natural canyon where the Beaume River flows between limestone cliffs. Road D24 follows the watercourse for 20 kilometers.

Devil's Bridge

Thueyts, France

Devil's Bridge

Medieval stone construction with an arch over the Ardèche River. The bridge offers a view of basalt formations.

Chassezac Gorge

Les Vans, France

Chassezac Gorge

Deep valley located between mountains with 400-meter rock walls. The site permits climbing and swimming.

Alba la Romaine Castle

Alba-la-Romaine, France

Alba la Romaine Castle

11th-century medieval fortress with a central square tower. The facade has decorative paintings and the interior retains period rooms.

Antraigues-sur-Volane

Antraigues-sur-Volane, France

Antraigues-sur-Volane

Mountain village at 470 meters characterized by narrow streets and 100 sculptures of faces carved into volcanic stone.

Aven Marzal

Saint-Remèze, France

Aven Marzal

Subterranean cavity with three levels of galleries, lighting installations, and stairs allowing exploration of geological chambers.

Labeaume

Labeaume, France

Labeaume

Village dating from the 12th century, perched on a limestone cliff along the Beaume River, with narrow alleys and stone houses.

Madeleine Cave

Saint-Remèze, France

Madeleine Cave

Natural cave adorned with limestone concretions, stalactites, and stalagmites, accessible via a marked path with a guide.

Mont Mézenc

Ardèche, France

Mont Mézenc

Highest point of the Ardèche mountains formed of volcanic rocks, offering hiking trails and a view of the Alps.

MuséAl

Alba-la-Romaine, France

MuséAl

The site presents ancient remains and a permanent collection of objects discovered during excavations of the Alba Helviorum site, dating from Roman times.

Tournon Castle

Tournon-sur-Rhône, France

Tournon Castle

The museum occupies a medieval castle with rooms arranged over two floors that present local history and offer a view of the Rhône Valley.

Ardèche Museum

Balazuc, France

Ardèche Museum

The museum displays a 200-square-meter collection of fossils found in the region, including marine and terrestrial specimens from various geological periods.

Aven d'Orgnac

Orgnac-l'Aven, France

Aven d'Orgnac

This natural cavity includes networks of underground galleries spread over several levels, with limestone concretions formed over millennia.

Sports Museum

Cruas, France

Sports Museum

250 m² exhibition space presenting both old and modern sports equipment with interactive simulation zones.

Vals-les-Bains

Vals-les-Bains, France

Vals-les-Bains

Thermal center with treatment facilities and several naturally carbonated mineral water springs used since the 17th century.

Three Crosses of Andance

Andance, France

Three Crosses of Andance

Mountain trail leading to a viewpoint offering a view of the Rhône Valley and the Vivarais mountains.

Eyrieux Valley

Ardèche, France

Eyrieux Valley

45-kilometer greenway laid out along a former railway line, connecting La Voulte-sur-Rhône to Le Cheylard for cyclists and pedestrians.