Ardèche: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Ardèche combines a landscape designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark with prehistoric caves, river gorges, mountains and regional specialities. Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Ardèche can then continue their search for accommodation.

Nature and landscape

The Monts d’Ardèche have been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark. Their cultural landscape includes dry-stone terraces; at the same time, the Monts d’Ardèche provide habitats for rare or endangered species, including golden eagles and genets.

Within Ardèche, the Montagne d’Ardèche includes volcanic formations such as Mont Gerbier de Jonc, which is described as the source of the Loire. The landscape contains flower meadows, ancient forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands and remarkable geological sites. Mountain bikers can enjoy routes with panoramic views there.

The Gorges de l’Ardèche also shape the landscape: the protected area stretches for 22 kilometres and covers 1,950 hectares. Activities mentioned there include kayaking, climbing, cave visits, fishing, hiking and swimming.

Culture and history

The Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave, also known as the Decorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, preserves the oldest known paintings, dating approximately from 30,000 to 32,000 BC. More than 1,000 paintings have been catalogued in the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave.

Aven d’Orgnac consists of enormous underground chambers formed in limestone over geological periods. The Cité de la Préhistoire at Aven d’Orgnac presents 350,000 years of prehistory and authentic objects. There are also prehistoric workshops and demonstrations covering hunting, fire-making and Cro-Magnon activities. A guided tour is required for the Aven d’Orgnac cave, while the Cité de la Préhistoire itself can be visited independently.

Dry-stone construction is recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage and is considered part of the identity of the Monts d’Ardèche. Visitor attractions in the Montagne d’Ardèche also include the Abbaye de Mazan.

Active pursuits

Ardèche has several hundred kilometres of safe or purpose-built cycle paths, including greenways and cycle routes that connect with the ViaRhôna at certain points. The Dolce Via, the Voie douce de la Payre, the Via Fluvia and the Via Ardèche are greenways laid out on former railway lines in Ardèche.

In winter, Croix de Bauzon offers downhill skiing, a leisure area for children and cross-country skiing. The Nordic area of La Chavade includes snowshoeing, tobogganing, cross-country skiing or ski touring, biathlon and dog-sled excursions.

Canoeing and kayaking are possible in the Gorges de l’Ardèche and on the Chassezac, Eyrieux and Doux rivers. Fishing options mentioned include fly fishing, spin fishing, no-kill sections and night carp-fishing sections. Ardèche has thermal spas in Saint-Laurent-les-Bains, Vals-les-Bains and Neyrac-les-Bains.

Regional cuisine

Valeurs-Parc products from the Monts d’Ardèche include honey, chestnut products, wild blueberries, mineral water and Chatus wine. Chatus is a distinctive, spicy and full-bodied wine associated with southern Ardèche.

Picodon AOP is a goat’s cheese made from raw goat’s milk. Fin Gras du Mézenc AOP refers to seasonal beef from animals raised in the Mézenc area exclusively on grass and hay. Other quality products from Ardèche include Châtaigne d’Ardèche, Picodon, Fin Gras du Mézenc, Côtes du Vivarais, Côtes du Rhône and wines from IGP Ardèche.

Regional foods can be discovered through producers, restaurants, weekly markets and chestnut festivals. Wine-tasting opportunities are available in cellars and vineyards.

Places in Ardèche

The directory of places includes, among others, Lachapelle Sous Aubenas, Saint-Martin-D'ardèche, Saint-Marcel-Dardeche, Saint-Sauveur-De-Cruzières, St. Julien Du Serre, Vagnas, Valvignères, Antraigues-Sur-Volane, Balazuc, Chambonas, Grospierres, Labastide-De-Virac, Labeaume, Lablachère, Lanarce, Larnas, Lentillères, Les Vans, Saint-Alban-Auriolles, Silhac, Villeneuve-De-Berg, Chauzon, Joannas, La Souche, Labatie D'andaure, Lagorce, Le Lac D'issarlès, Mezilhac, Rochemaure, Sablieres, Saint Agreve, Saint Basile, Saint Pons, Saint Thome, Vallon Pont D'arc, Sampzon, St Pierre De Colombier, St-Remeze, St. Andeol-De-Vals, St. Barthelemy Le Plain, St. Etienne De Boulogne, Saint-Cirgues-De-Prades, Vals-Les-Bains, Viviers, Ribes, Salavas, Saint-Jean-Le-Centenier, Saint-Apollinaire-De-Rias, Vinezac, Vogüé, Berrias-Et-Casteljau, Bessas, Boffres, Saint-Julien-Labrousse, Aubenas, Fabras, Pont-De-Labeaume, Burzet, Montpézat-Sous-Bauzon, Les Assions, Saint-Cirgues-En-Montagne, Saint-Victor, Coux, Saint-Pierre-Sur-Doux, Saint-Just, Issarlès, Barnas, Le Crestet, Beaulieu, Saint-Privat, Lamastre, Sanilhac, St. Andéol De Berg, Tournon, Le Pouzin, Davézieux, Châteaubourg, Baratier, Joyeuse, Ruoms, Satillieu, Gras, Saint-Christol, Saint-Marcel-Lès-Annonay, Saint-Désirat, Albon-D'ardèche, Saint-Prix, Saint-Alban-En-Montagne, Saint-Fortunat-Sur-Eyrieux, Alba-La-Romaine, Lavillatte, Ardoix, Saint-Genest-De-Beauzon, Orgnac L'aven, Prades, Montréal, Saint-Germain, Rosières, Gravières, Soyons, Saint-Clair, Saint-Clément, Lespéron, Ucel, Jaujac, Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Saint-Mélany, Meyras, Laurac-En-Vivarais, Saint-Sauveur-De-Montagut, Chazeaux, Le Béage, Serrières canton, La Rochette, Juvinas, Charmes-Sur-Rhône, Le Cheylard, Saint-Péray, Largentière, Lafarre, Le Teil, Quintenas, Les Ollières-Sur-Eyrieux, Thueyts, Désaignes, Mercuer, Privas, Banne, Lachamp-Raphaël, Tauriers, Uzer, Saint-Maurice-D'ardèche, Saint-Vincent-De-Barrès, Saint-Paul-Le-Jeune, Saint-Montan, Saint-Martin-Sur-Lavezon, Vernoux-En-Vivarais, Rochecolombe, Villevocance, Chomérac, Saint-Romain-De-Lerps, Lavilledieu, Étables, Rochessauve, Lussas, Empurany, Annonay, Ailhon, Alboussière, Nozières, Saint-André-Lachamp, Dornas, Sainte-Marguerite-Lafigère, Rompon, Malbosc, Coucouron, Rocher, Gluiras, Saint-Étienne-De-Lugdarès, Borne, Saint-Maurice-En-Chalencon, Mars, Limony, Cros-De-Géorand, Berzème, Lemps, Le Roux, Pranles, Asperjoc, Laviolle, Devesset, Malarce-Sur-La-Thines, Gilhac-Et-Bruzac, Mauves, Saint-Jean-De-Muzols, Cornas, Charnas, Sarras, Peaugres, Saint-Martial, Saint-Lager-Bressac, Colombier-Le-Vieux, Faugères, Valgorge, Savas, Arlebosc, Accons, Saint-Joseph-Des-Bancs, Rochepaule, Saint-Laurent-Du-Pape, Saint-Didier-Sous-Aubenas, Plats, Chirols, Bidon, Saint-André-En-Vivarais, Veyras, Nonières, Mayres, Payzac, Chandolas, Vesseaux, Marcols-les-Eaux, Baix, Ajoux, Félines, Vaudevant, Dompnac, Ozon, Saint-Julien-le-Roux, Arras-sur-Rhône, Saint-Maurice-d'Ibie, Cheminas, Lalouvesc, Châteauneuf-de-Vernoux, Dunière-sur-Eyrieux, Usclades-et-Rieutord, Pourchères, Chassiers, Les Salelles, Saint-Julien-du-Gua, Peyraud, Vanosc, Sécheras, Saint-André-de-Cruzières, Saint-Jean-Roure, Saint-Julien-Boutières, Issanlas, Lalevade-d'Ardèche, Jaunac, Champis, Saint-Alban-d'Ay, Le Plagnal, Saint-Étienne-de-Fontbellon, Pradons, Laboule, Sainte-Eulalie, Pailharès, Eclassan, Saint-Sernin, Mariac, Saint-Jeure-d'Ay, Saint-Étienne-de-Serre, Planzolles, Genestelle, Bogy, Boucieu-le-Roi, Labastide-sur-Bésorgues and Chalencon.

To the overview of destinations: Rhône-Alpes.