The Ardèche Gorges
The Ardèche river slices a dramatic path across the south-west of the region through a deep and winding canyon.   Walk the tranquil footpath beside the river or hire a canoe for that iconic ride beneath the natural stone bridge of the Pont d’Arc.

Creative genius from the past…
Ardèche has inspired artists and craftsmen from ancient times to the present day.  The interpretation centre for Grotte Chauvet explains the paintings of animals found in the world’s oldest decorated cave and a replica cave opens in Vallon in 2014.

Chestnut Country
No visit to Ardèche would be complete without tasting the sweet chestnuts, staple food of the area for many centuries.   Walk through plantations, visit mills and museums, and enjoy the flavour in cakes and confectionery, beer and liqueur.

Perched villages
The rugged peaks of Ardèche and Drôme are dotted with enchanting perched villages dating back to medieval times.   Discover stirring stories of past prosperity and ancient power struggles as you wander cobbled streets and tour castles and churches.

Each village has its own atmosphere, but no visitor to Drôme should miss Mirmande and Montbrun les Bains, La Garde Adhémar and Le Poët Laval. In Ardèche, Villages de Caractère such as Balazuc and Vogüe offer the full-on atmosphere of the Middle Ages.