Villages of Character in Ardèche 

The Rhodanian Shore

From time immemorial, the riverbank has been an "imperial valley" where man has always made an alliance with the river. But what remains today of this impetuous Rhône, of these intrepid boatmen, "water beaters" moving from "decise" to "remonte" between "Empi" (Dauphiné - left bank) and "Riaume" (Vivarais - right bank). The dams tamed the river, the railway ruined the crews. From Serrieres, deprived of its bargemen, to Bourg-Saint-Andéol, extends the "fruit valley": cherry trees, apricot trees, peach trees, apple trees, pear trees... where the vine also has its face to the famous hillsides of Hermitage - Saint-Peray, Cornas... and the appellation "Cote du Rhône" extends largely to the south, as far as Bourg.

Le Bas Vivarais

Dazzling limestone in the southern light, here we are in the domain all scaled with stones and dolmens, enamelled with garrigues and holm oaks, that a river as astonishing as fiery has marked with an indelible seal, the Ardèche, symbolizing in itself the whole department. Its capricious waters have drilled the prodigious arch of the Pont d'Arc, and have dug and excavated countless caves and avens called Saint Marcel, la Cocalière, Orgnac, Marzal, La Forestière, La Madeleine, underground cathedrals of hallucinating splendour.

The Ardèche, but also the Beaume, the Ibie, the Chassezac. Here, the Païolive wood, a ruinous landscape of limestone and greenery where the rocks look like monsters and giants. Everywhere, villages crushed by the sun. On the "gras", lavender and olive trees compete for the arable land with the vine, the pride of the farmer since it has relegated magnaneries and silk to the rank of memories. A page has been turned. And if it is very difficult to reconcile viticulture and tourism, one cannot praise one and vilify the other, but, on the contrary, improve both

La Cévenne

This is the most severe and harshest country in the whole department. It is a land of "greenhouses" torn and ravaged by the torrential rains which, in spring and autumn, transform the streams tumbling down from the tumultuous Tanague - the mountain of Thunder - into impetuous and devastating torrents. 

A heterogeneous country where granite, schist, mica schist, sandstone and limestone are mixed together to such an extent that one might think that this complexity of building materials leads to a different rural architecture at every turn of the road.

A land where the "Rayol" has built fabulous terraces on its slopes to fix the earth and support vines, crops and houses.

It is the chestnut grove that gives the Cévenne its true face. Associated with sericulture, the chestnut tree, which reigns supreme here, was the source of the country's wealth. Both a bread tree and a meat tree, for people and their animals, its wood was used to build roof frames, window lintels, and boards for doors and floors.

It is still the chestnut and its architectural translation in the landscape, the "clède" - chestnut dryer - which has left its mark on the landscape. It is true that a house, whatever its layout or the nature of the materials used in its construction, is Cévennes only through the presence of this clède.nce de cette clède.

Gard rhodanien

Le tricastin

Tricastin is a natural and historical region in the Rhône valley between the south-western part of the Drôme and the north-western part of Vaucluse.

It is the cradle of the ancient tribe of Tricastins. Their capital was Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux1. The name Tricastin, long interpreted as "country of the Three Castles", actually derives from the Ligurian tribe of the Tricastins, who occupied the territory throughout antiquity.

Today, the Tricastin region is known for the Tricastin nuclear site, located on the course of the Donzère-Mondragon canal, a diversion canal of the Rhône, for its AOC Grignan-les-adhémar vineyards, and for the quality of its natural and architectural heritage.

The Céze Valley

Considered as the hinterland of the Gard, the Cèze Valley, named after the river that crosses it, is a real nature getaway between the Cévennes and Provence, accessible by the "autoroute du soleil", between Vallon Pont d'Arc and the Pont du Gard.

You will enjoy an authentic and wild south. The multi-faceted Cèze Valley is a paradise for lovers of outdoor sports, swimming, local produce and heritage. It hides many secrets: caves, lavender fields, waterfalls...

Each season inspires a new sunny discovery: in spring, nature awakens and the temperatures are ideal for discovering the many paths and picturesque villages. On a hot summer's day, cool off on the banks of the Cèze and discover the surrounding area by canoe. In autumn and winter, marvel at the richness of the colours and the golden light during a walk in the garrigue or in the Cévennes National Park and relax by the fire with a glass of Côte du Rhône.

Drôme Provençale