Ardèche, Department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
The Ardèche department spans 5,528 square kilometers of diverse terrain, from mountain ranges to deep gorges, with the Rhône River defining its eastern border.
The French Revolution brought significant changes to regional administration, leading to the creation of the Ardèche department on March 4, 1790.
The department maintains seventeen designated villages of character, including Alba-la-Romaine and Balazuc, which represent traditional architecture and local heritage.
The region contains three administrative districts centered around Privas, Tournon-sur-Rhône, and Largentière, serving a population of over 300,000 residents.
The Chauvet Cave within Ardèche contains some of Europe's earliest known cave paintings, dating back approximately 32,000 years.
Location: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Location: France
Inception: March 4, 1790
Capital city: Privas
Shares border with: Loire, Haute-Loire, Lozère, Gard, Vaucluse, Drôme, Isère
Address: Ardèche, France
Website: http://ardeche.fr
GPS coordinates: 44.66667,4.41667
Latest update: June 25, 2025 19:47
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.
Chauvet Cave
31.1 km
Auberge rouge
36.4 km
Mont Gerbier de Jonc
25.1 km
Chemin de Stevenson
45 km
Gorges de l'Ardèche
33.9 km
La Ferme aux crocodiles
41.4 km
Statue de Notre-Dame de France
59.6 km
Château de Crussol
45.8 km
Grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardèche
28.9 km
Aven d'Orgnac
38.6 km
Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe
60 km
Our Lady of the Snows
39 km
Pont d'Arc
31.7 km
Espace touristique des Crocodiles
41.7 km
Safari de Peaugres
71.1 km
Parc Avenue
14.3 km
Aiguebelle Abbey
40.7 km
Safari de Peaugres Circuit Piéton
71.8 km
Le Puy Cathedral
59.5 km
Pont du Robinet
32.7 km
Donzère-Mondragon Dam
48 km
Cascade du Ray-Pic
18.2 km
Monts d'Ardèche
13 km
Château de Portes
54.1 km
Château de Ventadour
10.3 km
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