The 14 things to do in Ardèche

Green, wild and mountainous, the Ardèche has many facets. Visit the Ardèche reserves many surprises that will make you succumb to yourself!

Visiting Ardèche is discovering a rural department as well as tourists. The Southern Ardèche, the Cevennes Ardéchoises, the Ardéchoise mountain and the country of Aubenas. Each of these areas is full of more spectacular places. Many visitors want to offer a thousand-day stay of modern and tourist destinations. The Ardèche is the very nature: sumptuous sites await you and whatever season you want to discover them.

Are you wondering what to do in Ardèche during your stay? Here is a selection of essential activities when you visit the Ardèche with ease!

1. Enjoy the sports of bright water in the gorges of the Ardèche

The Gorges de l’Ardèche are an extremely popular tourist site in the department. They form a real canyon of about thirty kilometers dug into the limestone plateau between Vallon-Pont-d’Arc and Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche. This site is a must-see in Ardèche!

Besides the panoramic road to follow by car, they are very popular with lovers of strong sensations. Indeed, you can do it or of . You also have the possibility to go down the river that passes under the famous bridge of Arc. The descent takes place in the day and is a real adventure. It can also be accomplished in two days with a bivouac night in Gaud or Gournier.

2. Go to the caves of the Ardèche

The Ardèche is a department that includes many exceptional geological sites.

The most notorious of them is cave of Chauvet discovered in 1994 only and located in the commune of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc. Listed as a World Heritage Site Since June 2014, it has been one of the most beautiful in the European continent. The site has a thousand paintings and engravings, including 447 representations of animals of 14 different species. This is simply Ardèche’s first tourist site!

Some of his caves are under the surface, so what better than doing the to visit them? Press your helmet on your head, put on your suit and follow the guide to discover the hidden treasures of the Ardèche.

3. Take the steam train

The railway of the Vivarais is a tourist railway that is among the unmissable to visit the Ardèche. Nowadays, he connects Saint-Jean-de-Muzols to Lamastre and travels about 33 kilometers. It has the particularity of being operated in steam traction by authentic Mallet locomotives.

The purpose of this journey is to show you the beauty of the Ardecholic nature and is similar to a jump in time that will delight small and large come to visit the Ardèche. So, what are you waiting for to book a ticket?

4. Make a safari in Peaugres

This is Zoological park is located in the commune of Peaugres, near Annonay. Opened in 1974 Paul de la Panouse , it covers 80 hectares. There are almost a thousand different animals belonging to 127 distinct species.

The particularity of the park is that it can be surveyed on foot or by car. Several types of paths zebra the space of the safari which allows to vary the pleasures there. By car, you will enjoy a safari type experience. But on foot, you can enjoy a unique hike and take all the time to enjoy this memorable moment to do in Ardèche.

5. Browse the bicycle of the Gorges du Doux

This playful activity takes place on the track of the legendary Train de l’Ardèche. It is a matter of setting up aboard light carttes resembling Coccinelles and pedaling to advance.

Four tracks between eight and twenty kilometers are available. You will cross gorges, tunnels, viaducts and enchanting clearings. Don’t be afraid: the different routes are only in the direction of descent! The finish is on the edges of the Doux. You will have the opportunity once you get off your vehicle of the day to explore the charming village of Boucieu-le-Roi. What better, when you are looking for what to do in Ardèche?

6. Visit the City of Prehistory

The city of Prehistory is a fun and interactive museum that retraces 350,000 years of history, from ancient Paleolithic to early Gauls. The Ardèche, a land of prehistoric heritage, is particularly suited to this fantastic cultural exhibition. To find out all about the daily life of the Preneanderthalians, the Neandertal man and the Homo sapiens, visit this exciting site with various animations.

The advantage is that you can combine the visit with a hiking along the woods of Orgnac. What better when you visit the Ardèche than enjoying this unique moment?

7. Explore the Ardèche Mountains Regional Natural Park

The Monts d’Ardèche Regional Natural Park is a French regional natural park born in 1992 at the initiative of the castanéiculteurs. What? Don’t be afraid, these are the producers of chestnuts who wanted to value their terroir! Originally extended to the western part of the department, today some neighboring municipalities of Haute-Loire are part of it. The Monts d’Ardèche is landscapes, a unique cultural heritage, succulent agricultural productions and many points of tourist interest.

Our advice? Going to Péreyres, in the Ardéchoise Cevennes, admire the sublime Ray-Pic waterfall. Here, the river la Bourges falls more than 60 meters high following a lava casting that forms a cascade of basaltic organs. What are you waiting to enjoy the beauty of these unique landscapes to visit in Ardèche?

8. Taste a glass of wine in the Ardéchois vineyards

In Ardèche, a unique terroir between Provence and mountains, we love the good dear. And there are many vineyards! For proof, many wine cellars and tasting workshops are offered to you. You can discover the wines of the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages that will please seasoned amateurs.

9. Discover the ardéchoise biodiversity in the woods of Païolive

The wood of Païolive is in fact an ancient forest that extends over 16 km2 in the south of the department. This wood is a must to visit in Ardèche by its natural richness. Biodiversity is very important and sumptuous landscapes of crossing through the gorges of Channerac are offered to the curious.

True natural curiosity, wood is populated by mysterious formations of limestone blocks. They used to lend themselves to centuries-old legends but still constitute a tourist must to do in Ardèche.

10. Skiing in the northern Chavade area

The Chavade is a winter sports resort located on the foothills of the Central Massif near the Bauzon Cross. Here, alpine skiing point but a small Nordic skiing area ideal for learning in cross-country skiing.

If you come there in the winter and you are looking for what to do to visit the Ardèche, go between the two towns of Astet and Mayres. The ski area is between 1,380 and 1,504 metres above sea level and will be perfect for learning the pleasures of cross-country skiing. If you just want to spend a good time with your family, the sled is also on the Chavade, no worry!

11. Eating chocolate at the city of Chocolate Valrhona

Do you want to visit the Ardèche greedily? The city of Chocolat Valrhona located in Tain-l’Hermitage offers a delicious interactive journey. You can discover the history of this product so popular with gourmets, manufacturing techniques and participate in tastings.

In addition, you can make a visit by the shop at the end of your visit to spoil your loved ones... Our only advice: be careful not to provoke you a liver crisis!

12. Visit the Lavender Museum

The Lavender Museum is located in a former sheepfold in the heart of the Ardèche Gorges, a few minutes from Vallon Pont d’Arc and the famous Chauvet Cave. The tour will allow you to board the Petit Train des Lavandes for a tour of the estate.

You can observe the methods of extraction of lavender essential oil and spoil your friends after seeing done a little trick in Boutique. This tourist site is a must to visit the Ardèche, do not hesitate to visit it!

13. Bike ride from Tournon-sur-Rhône

Tournon-sur-Rhône is a very special commune: it is quickly understood when visiting the Ardèche. It dominates the Rhone and faces Tain-l’Hermitage, This beautiful village includes a castle that dominates the town and its picturesque paved alleys.

Tournon, it is especially many bike paths including the famous Via Rhôna that licks between the vineyards on terraces. During your walk you can admire the Beauregard Tower and the famous Garden of Eden, a green space within the citadel located right next to the old convent. You will have understood it, it is a variety of diverse landscapes that await you in Ardèche.

14. Turn around the most beautiful villages in Ardèche

Annonay

With more than 16,000 inhabitants, Annonay is the most populous municipality of Ardèche. This can lend to smile in this rural department in Annonay, it is the real metropolis around the corner!

This industrial city has old tanneries, stationery, as well as many tourist points of interest. Go to rue de la Poterne and visit Nicolas du Peloux's strong house. Otherwise, you can also admire the bourgeois houses of Trachin, the Valgelas Bridge or the Grenette Square Fountain? A statue of the brothers Joseph and Étienne De Montgolfière, a local native, is the place of Libération.

In fact, why don’t you take a tour of their mythical invention, which you guessed, is nothing but the . There is nothing better to discover the colorful landscapes of Ardèche!

Crussol

Now in ruins, the Château de Crussol dominated the Rhone valley and faced the city of Valencia. Located on the crest of the mountain of Crussol, it overlooks the towns of Saint-Péray in the west, Guilherand-Granges and Valencia in the east. The ruins are among the 18 sites classified in the department. It extends over three hectares and its ramparts, still visible, remain majestic despite the centuries past.

If you are told, it is that every last weekend of June a medieval festival takes place on the site with concerts, animations and historical reconstructions. If you come to visit the Ardèche at this time of year, you know what you have to do!

Balazuc

This is medieval village It also features ramparts, dungeon and castle dating from the 11th century. He's one of those. most beautiful villages in France !

Here you will find the most beautiful monuments to visit in Ardèche such as the castle of Balazuc, the church of Sainte-Madeleine of the nineteenth century, the fortified house of the thirteenth century, the museum of Ardèche... But also the door of the Sablière, the best preserved door of the old ramparts, or begin to climb on the site of the Barasses. Anyway, whatever you wanted to do, you'll get it for your money, we guarantee it!

How do I go to Ardèche?

The Ardéchois department is one of the most rural in France. It is deprived of access to the highway and does not even have a fast track!

That said, airports Lyon or Marseille are only a few hours away. To find flights at the best prices, we recommend you to go to Skyscanner .

From there, given the specificity of this department away from the major urban centres, we advise you to rent a vehicle to move without taking your head. Indeed, the car is essential to travel to Ardèche given the low public transport network. The A7 motorway runs along the eastern side of the department and the exits allow you to easily reach your destination.

Where to stay in Ardèche?

When we look for what to do in Ardèche we also have to look for to stay there. On site you will find several types of accommodation to choose according to your wishes, and your budget.

As far as hotels are concerned, it is obviously at Annonay , Privas or Aubenas that we find the most hotels. The budget is rather affordable in winter but much less in summer: choose carefully!

We also advise you to take advantage of the offer Airbnb at the heart of some picturesque small municipalities that will allow you to enjoy affordable rates and more typical accommodation. Vallon Pont d’Arc , Vogüé, Labaume (and its pebble beach...) or Ruoms are, for example, unmissable. Our heartburn? medieval city of Joyeuse Lovely.