The treasures of the Ardèche region

It is estimated that 1.2 million visitors take the tourist Route des Gorges each year, whilst nearly 100,000 people go down the river by canoe or kayak. This is a descent which can be undertaken in one day, or two days for those who wish to bivouac on the banks of the river.

Finally, the Gorges de l’Ardèche is a fabulous field of discovery for the practice of climbing, caving, etc.

Whether they discover it from the belvederes along the Route des Gorges, from the pebble beaches located up-, and downstream, or even from a canoe drifting down the river, everyone can only rave about the beauty of the Pont d’Arc.

The gateway to the magnificent Gorges de l’Ardèche, the Pont d’Arc has been classified as a “Site Naturel Classé” (French natural site), to ensure that it is preserved, since 1982. Its 60-meter width makes the Pont d’Arc one of the most impressive natural arches in the world. The water which flows below, clear and limpid, entices you to swim. At the same time its beaches turn out to be the ideal spots to indulge in idleness, and watch the canoeists and other kayakers descending the water course, with their head and the eyes pointing to the sky….

The walls of the Grotte Chauvet 2 are covered by nearly a thousand paintings and engravings, dating by the carbon 14 methods to estimate two phases of occupation; between 33 and 29,000 BCE, during the Aurignacian Age, and between 27 and 24,500 BCE, during the Gravettian Age.

To avoid damaging these jewels of prehistoric art, the Grotte Chauvet will never be open to the general public, which is why it was decided to build a replica: the Grotte Chauvet 2.

For example its château (castle), having the classification Monument Historique (historic monument) since 1943, is considered as one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the department. Thus, upon visiting the château, you will be able to discover its superb mullioned windows, spiral staircases, its towers and even its glazed tiled roof…

The other jewel of Aubenas, the Dôme Saint Benoît, a spectacular church, is also classified as a historic monument. You can admire the collections of religious objets d’art, as well as a mausoleum. There are also various churches in the town which merit the detour to Aubenas. Amongst the latter, there is the Eglise Saint Laurent and the Chapelle des Cordeliers.

Occupied since the Neanderthal period, the site upon which the village of Balazuc is established witnessed first the settlement of the Celts, and then the Romans. The village is fortified and has a square dungeon of the 11th century. The Roman church was also granted a defensive role and was protected by a tower.

Nothing like a passage through its shady streets and refreshing vaults to escape the heat of summer. Lively and festive, the village of Balazuc also houses a multitude of artists and self-employed craftsmen. During your walk, you can admire pieces of pottery, jewellery, local products and other items.

To finish the visit, which takes place at a depth of 121 meters, a sound and light show emphasizes the magnificence of this cave. Thanks to the presence of a elevator, you can go back up to the surface, effortlessly!

On the surface, where the first Europeans have left traces of their passage, a City of Prehistory allows today’s curious to face their ancestors of yesterday. During a visit which is, above all, modern and fun, you will be able to attend various demonstrations. These include flint-making, fire-lighting, shooting spears, and others. Games tables and stalls offer a new look at the prehistoric world while the remains on display, all from archaeological excavations in the Ardèche and northern Gard, allow to appreciate the intense prehistoric activity that may have known the region.

By the river, Labeaume is a delightful village surrounded by cliffs, scattered with a multitude of rock-carved dwellings. At the heart of the village, the streets form a real labyrinth in which tourists are enticed to lose themselves to  appreciate the facades of houses build by pebble stones, directly removed from the bottom of the river.

Perched on a rock, a castle overlooks Labeaume while below, in the village you can see the remains of the old castle, a mill and hanging gardens. These are terraces designed for cultivation in the vertical parts of a limestone promontory overlooking the gorge of La Baume.

A landscaped path provides access to the summit of Mount Gerbier de Jonc, a climb of 150 meters high from the car park that is easy to do provided you are well-equiped.

A climb all the more enjoyable as the view is remarkable. In the foreground, the beautiful seasons (spring and summer) cover the meadows with flowers and beautiful colors. In the background, is the Chaine des Sucs (the Ardèche volcanoes) and the entire Ardèche plateau, which is revealed before your very eyes. Going further still, when visibility allows it, the view across the Alps mountain range from Mont Blanc up to the Massif des Ecrins does not leave visitors impervious to its charms…

Amongst the other volcanoes to discover around Mont Gerbier de Jonc, we might mention the famous Mont Mézenc, with a height of 1,753 meters, and also the mountains the Suc de Sara, the Suc de Montfol, and the Coux…

At the entrance to the town is also the Néovinum, a real temple dedicated to the world of Ardèche wines. A guided tour allows a spectacular immersion in the world of wines of the region through an interactive scenographic journey entirely dedicated to the terroirs, wines and tasting. A thematic and multimedia games area also makes it possible to learn while having fun.

As you go out of Ruoms, once you have crossed the Ardèche river, in the direction of the village of Largentière, the touristic route ‘Les Défilés de Ruoms’ begins. Hollowed out in the rock during the 19th century, this route offers a spectacular vista across the limestone cliffs gouged out by the Ligne, a tributary of the Ardèche.

Surrounded by an impressive cliff of limestone, this village is made up of a dozen alleys around which are clustered wonderful buildings all older than each other.

The Château de Vogüé dates from the 12th century, but was significantly altered in the 15th and 16th centurie. It consists of a large guardhouse and four corner towers. Open to the public, it hosts many temporary exhibitions throughout the year.