Let yourself be amazed by the Ardèche
Discovering the Gorges de l'Ardèchedu Chassezac
Païolive wood and hunting gorges
The Chassezac, a tributary of the Ardèche River, cuts the plateau through spectacular gorges, limited by high cliffs dedicated to climbing. The Chassezac has dug deep, vertiginous gorges on the mountainside. Rock walls are a delight for lovers of steep cliffs and adventure sports. A lover of relaxation, sportsmen, family or friends, everyone will find their moment of relaxation or leisure on the Chassezac. There’s nothing like the Chassezac Gorge for climbing or Via Corda. Once at the top of the cliff, you will admire the river and the panorama will be only for you.
To discover these places, a must-see walk is the wood of Païolive. This is one of the strangest curiosities of the Ardèche. A veritable natural maze overlooking the Chassezac, located on the towns of Vans, Banne and Berrias-Casteljau. Three marked circuits have been drawn: Green Circuit de la Virgo, Saint Eugene’s Blue Circuit and the Corniche Yellow Circuit.
A unique experience in the world, the Gorges de l’Ardèche
Unique, unmissable, beautiful… let many other qualifiers to talk about the Gorges of the Ardèche. If you come to the Ardèche, you must definitely visit its Gorges!There are many ways to discover them: canoeing, hiking along the water, swimming on its beaches, views by car or bike, guided boat ride … Everyone has their own mode of travel to enjoy this protected natural place, to discover in one or more days…
By road: Between Vallon Pont d’Arc and St Martin d’Ardèche, you will travel the famous tourist route of the Ardèche Gorges! 29 kms in the wild and 11 designed lookouts that offer absolutely stunning views of this spectacular site! Perched 200m above the river, at the top of the vertiginous cliffs, the scenery is breathtaking.
On foot, the route in the Ardèche Gorge consists of 2 sections of 12 km each. The upstream part: from the Pont du Tiourre, from the Pont d’Arc to Vallon Pont d’Arc, to the Bivouac de Gournier. And the downstream part: from the Bivouac de Gournier to the beach of Sauze to St Martin d’Ardèche.
By canoe: The unmissable descent of the Ardèche by canoe/kayak! Take your time. Paddle at your own pace. Beginner or advanced, choose your route (7, 12, 24, 32 or 36 km) and spend half a day, a day or even several days on our river, by canoe/kayak in a free course or accompanied by a patented instructor.
A unique experience in the world, the Gorges de l’Ardèche
Unique, unmissable, beautiful… let many other qualifiers to talk about the Gorges of the Ardèche. If you come to the Ardèche, you must definitely visit its Gorges!There are many ways to discover them: canoeing, hiking along the water, swimming on its beaches, views by car or bike, guided boat ride … Everyone has their own mode of travel to enjoy this protected natural place, to discover in one or more days…
By road: Between Vallon Pont d’Arc and St Martin d’Ardèche, you will travel the famous tourist route of the Ardèche Gorges! 29 kms in the wild and 11 designed lookouts that offer absolutely stunning views of this spectacular site! Perched 200m above the river, at the top of the vertiginous cliffs, the scenery is breathtaking.
On foot, the route in the Ardèche Gorge consists of 2 sections of 12 km each. The upstream part: from the Pont du Tiourre, from the Pont d’Arc to Vallon Pont d’Arc, to the Bivouac de Gournier. And the downstream part: from the Bivouac de Gournier to the beach of Sauze to St Martin d’Ardèche.
By canoe: The unmissable descent of the Ardèche by canoe/kayak! Take your time. Paddle at your own pace. Beginner or advanced, choose your route (7, 12, 24, 32 or 36 km) and spend half a day, a day or even several days on our river, by canoe/kayak in a free course or accompanied by a patented instructor.
A universe of caves and aven
The Chauvet 2 Cave or the Cave of the Arc Bridge, listed in 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
A leap in time 36,000 years ago, to the origins of art. Discover frescoes, walls, but also floors, ceilings and archaeological remains. Booking on the internet is highly recommended… So remember to book your tickets in advance with the Chauvet 2 Cave. The Chauvet Cave 2 site is located in Vallon Pont d’Arc. It is open every day, all year round.
The Cave of the Pont d’Arc is a replica that is intended to be as accurate as possible of the Chauvet Cave, one of the most beautiful ornate caves in the world. Located in Vallon Pont d’Arc, a few kilometres from the Les Cruses campsite, this site has quickly become one of the most popular tourist sites in the department.
Do you know the difference between “gro” and “aven”?
In caving, cave and aven are cavities of the earth’s layer that differ in their openings. The cave as the cave has its entrance in a vertical wall while the aven is a chasm that begins in the ground. The Grand Site of the Aven d’Orgnac offers a breathtaking natural spectacle! Labeled Grand Site of France, it combines the City of Prehistory and the Cave with its underground landscapes. From the immense to the infinitely small: the Grotto, which adjoins the City of Prehistory, surprises with its gigantic volumes and the beauty of its underground landscapes. At the end of the visit, at a depth of 121 meters, a show of sounds and lights sublimates the majesty of the place. The lift is then effortlessly made thanks to an elevator.
Caving outings (by reservation): the Underground Vertige, a unique experience to evolve in the ceilings of the Cave of the Aven d’Orgnac, the panoramic descent, abseiling 50m by the natural entrance of the cave or the Combined combining the two services, enough to satisfy the most daring! More information on the www.orgnac.com website.
Do you know the difference between “gro” and “aven”?
In caving, cave and aven are cavities of the earth’s layer that differ in their openings. The cave as the cave has its entrance in a vertical wall while the aven is a chasm that begins in the ground. The Grand Site of the Aven d’Orgnac offers a breathtaking natural spectacle! Labeled Grand Site of France, it combines the City of Prehistory and the Cave with its underground landscapes. From the immense to the infinitely small: the Grotto, which adjoins the City of Prehistory, surprises with its gigantic volumes and the beauty of its underground landscapes. At the end of the visit, at a depth of 121 meters, a show of sounds and lights sublimates the majesty of the place. The lift is then effortlessly made thanks to an elevator.
Caving outings (by reservation): the Underground Vertige, a unique experience to evolve in the ceilings of the Cave of the Aven d’Orgnac, the panoramic descent, abseiling 50m by the natural entrance of the cave or the Combined combining the two services, enough to satisfy the most daring! More information on the www.orgnac.com website.
Villages of character in Ardèche
The Les Cruses campsite, located at the foot of the village of Ribes, is surrounded by villages of character
Banne, a village of unmissable character in the Ardèche. This village nestled at the foot of the Cévennes facing the limestone plain of Ardéchoise is distinguished by the atypical presence of 27 dolmens. The village hides: the stables of the Fort, which host the many summer festivities, surmounted by the remains of its medieval castle but also the church of St. Peter of Banne dating from the 12th century.
At the foot of the village of Labeaume flows the Beaume River, surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs, carved out of caves. Climb to the top of the village, you will enjoy a stunning view! After this climb, you will have well deserved a relaxing break at the beach to cool off. At the foot of the village and its restaurants, you will find one of the prettiest river corners of the area. Nearby, we also recommend the hanging gardens of the Récatadou in Labeaume which offer a striking view!
Also ranked as the most Beautiful Villages of France, Vogu and Balazuc
On the banks of the Ardèche, backed by a cliff, the castle of the Lords of Voge and its four round towers watch over the village and its amphitheatre alleys marked with arches and arched passages. The pretty houses with warm colours and round tile roofs bear witness to the southern character of the city.
Balazuc is ranked among the most beautiful villages in France. Small houses clinging to the cliff above the Ardèche River, shady cobbled streets, secret passages like that of the “Fachinière” (the thrower of spells), vaults, calades, craftsmen’s shops, a very pretty Romanesque church … Don’t miss: the view of the cliffs from the bell tower of the Romane church! Not to mention the beach! For a swim facing the cliffs.
Also ranked as the most Beautiful Villages of France, Vogu and Balazuc
On the banks of the Ardèche, backed by a cliff, the castle of the Lords of Voge and its four round towers watch over the village and its amphitheatre alleys marked with arches and arched passages. The pretty houses with warm colours and round tile roofs bear witness to the southern character of the city.
Balazuc is ranked among the most beautiful villages in France. Small houses clinging to the cliff above the Ardèche River, shady cobbled streets, secret passages like that of the “Fachinière” (the thrower of spells), vaults, calades, craftsmen’s shops, a very pretty Romanesque church … Don’t miss: the view of the cliffs from the bell tower of the Romane church! Not to mention the beach! For a swim facing the cliffs.
Going to the market in the Ardèche is one of the little pleasures of the holidays
How good it is to stroll through the markets of the Ardèche! Fruits and vegetables from the country, honey, cold meats, goat cheese, olives, enough to prepare you a feast Ardéchois. The Ardéchois terroir is rich in colour and fragrance.
Morning
- Monday: Rosières – St Paul the Younger – Vogu – St Alban Auriolles – Banne
- Tuesday: Largentière – Sampzon
- Wednesday: Happy
- Thursday: Vallon Pont d’Arc – Laurac – Berrias
- Friday: Ruoms – St Paul the Younger – Jaujac
- Saturday: Les Vans – Aubenas
- Sunday: Lablachère – Vals les Bains – Paysac – Valgorge – St Mélany -Rocles, Sanilhac
AFTER NOON AND IN THE EVENING
- Monday: Banne (creators’ markets from 11/07)
- Tuesday: Les Vans – Vallon Pont d’Arc – Balazuc
- Wednesday: Ruoms – Aubenas
- Thursday: Rosières – Sablières (producer markets 5pm/7pm)
- Friday: Largentière – Laboule (producer market 6pm/9pm) – Happy (producer market from 08/07 – 7pmam/10pm)
- Sunday: Happy: – “Classic” Market Guard Square – Old Town: Designers’ Market (9am/11.0pm)
We offer you to discover the Ardèche while having fun. Here are some activities:
- Canoeing, Canyoning,
- Via Ferrata, Escalade, Speleology,
- Bike rental, electric scooter, bike-rail
- Riding,
- Karting, Quad,
- Hook …
We offer you to discover the Ardèche while having fun. Here are some activities:
- Canoeing, Canyoning,
- Via Ferrata, Escalade, Speleology,
- Bike rental, electric scooter, bike-rail
- Riding,
- Karting, Quad,
- Hook …
