Can anyone recommend a decent guidebook for the upper Ardeche (pre Arche de Vallon).
I've not found one in English and sadly, my French isn't that great so not happy buying a French book, which seems to be the only option: unless you know differently? (Remember That's Life sign off?)
I do like to know a bit about where I'm visiting, food, culture, places to visit etc...
We're going soon....
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
You can get a lot of help from Tourist Information. Try the Office du Tourism in Privas or Aubenas - both to the north of Vallon or even further north - depending on where you're staying.
Generally the Ardeche seems to be 'lumped in' with the Cevennes or even as part of the Massif Central, but there is loads of information available on line.
Whereabouts are you staying? I may be able to help with some suggestions of places, food, culture, etc., as we've been holidaying in and around the Ardeche for about thirty two years on and off and we've been to a lot of different places over those years. We may be back again this year as my (now) thirty year old son wants to take his partner on a canoe on the Ardeche.
Thanks Val for your lovely response and links, and discretion at ignoring my CRAFT moment for forgetting it's called 'Vallon Pont d'Arc... it was late and I was tired. Oops
We're staying near Aubenas.
I had picked out the waterfall and Val les Bains, and La Beaume. I believe there is canyoning near by which I quite fancy doing.
Any info you have time to share based on our location would be most gratefully received. We will find the Tourist Info office but, it seems odd not to have things to read beforehand... it's usually one of my 'musts' for a holiday. I have looked a bit online but I do like to browse through a book and know what to look out for - including food and drink
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Quote: Originally posted by The Morans on 21/6/2016
Val. Do you have restaurant recommendations for Vallon please? We are staying at L'Ardechois. Thanks
We liked The Chelsea in Vallon.
Also, enjoyed camping at 'Le Clapas', just outside of Vallon. (See review)
Quote: Originally posted by The Morans on 21/6/2016
Val. Do you have restaurant recommendations for Vallon please? We are staying at L'Ardechois. Thanks
We liked The Chelsea in Vallon.
Also, enjoyed camping at 'Le Clapas', just outside of Vallon. (See review)
Both our favourites in Vallon were closed when we were last there, a year ago, but should they have re-opened they were Le Point d'Interrogation (the old jail with a pizza menu but lots of French favourites too) and La Rocaille (very cheap and cheerful but a family favourite for years and years!)
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I would ring Tourist Information in Aubenas and ask them to post you any guides they have, in English - that way you get to read them before you set off.
We're not really culture vultures (more interested in the real vultures that these days you may actually see over the Ardeche), but some suggestions: try the corner ice cream shop in Ruoms - but avoid market days if you want to wander along through the other shops. The market is worth a visit in itself.
Vogue and the pebble beach is worth a visit, as I think, is Viel Audon, where there is (or was) an Eco village with reed bed and bamboo sewage treatment, a small restaurant, and lots of people wanting an alternative lifestyle with their animals and self-sufficency. They may all have moved away now, their children grown up and moved into jobs with MI6, and living in lofts in north London somewhere! Also worth visiting is L'Argentiere on market day, then wander up the narrow streets in the little town, have a coffee in the square, try one of the little restaurants, and then up to the Chateau and silk museum. We also tried to find the house in Fabras owned by Nippy and Nigel (TV series) and did, then we also found the restaurant they rented and turned into L'Ete Indien.
If the Orgue (organs) festival in on in Chassiers then that's worth a visit for a very different musical experience.
There are several La Beaume - just up from Aubenas is Pont de la Beaume, but you want the other westwards from Ruoms on the opposite side of the river. The swimming is lovely here and still one of our favourite places.
Really there are so many other places, some will interest you, some will not. If we were at our house in France I would loan you our green Michelin guide to the Ardeche (in French but may improve your French enormously!) - sadly it's on a bookshelf there and we're here! Try your local library or browse round old bookshops and charity shops - you never know just what out of print books they have in there.
It may also be worth looking at the Lonely Planet website https://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/gorges-de-l-ardeche
The caves at Orgnac L'Aven are well worth a visit.
The Haribo factory and factory shop near Uzes
Drive along the gorge to Aigueze, we had lunch there at a lovely cafe looking down towards the river. Aigueze is very pretty.
Lots of gorgeous fortified towns on the route across towards the Pont du Gard, we particularly liked Castillion du Gard.
Ruoms market is massive, and busy. Get there early, but well worth a visit. Vallon market, go to the evening one, again busy, but loads of parking down at the bottom or walk in from the campsite.
Balazuc also nice, with a chateau.
Could go on for ages, one of our favourite places in France.
Thanks for all the suggestions and advice - we like the great outdoors where possible, although a little culture is also important for a sense of place.
La Beaume/Baume river beach is one I have earmarked (near Ruoms). And I enjoy a good subterranean landscape too.
I may try the TI but maybe too late for us now... french dictionary to hand Alternatively, it will be a voyage of discovery for me - which will make a change - and that might be good. OH is always in that position as he relies on me to organise it all.
Getting excited now
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
This will be our third year staying near Vallon, we'll be next door at Mondial Camping. Things we've enjoyed, some on Val A's recommendation, are:
- Obviously kayaking down the river, hired from on site so you get minibussed back again. The small descent is about 7km and takes you under the Pont d'Arc and a little bit further. If you're feeling brave and more energetic you can do the whole day descent which is 30km...it's very beautiful, but very long!
- Night market at Vallon, easily walkable from the site.
- The Caverne du Pont d'Arc - only opened last year, they have recreated the cave that was discovered nearby, and made a very enjoyable museum site. Well worth a day out, and was very well organised with timed entries into the actual cave with guided groups and audio in English if needed.
- La Beaume and Balazuc - both worth a trip if ou enjoy river swimming.
- Les Cascades de Sautadet - a little bit further away, and does get very busy, but also very enjoyable. The cascades are at the top end and then go down to a beach area with calm swimming and rocks to jump off. The nearby village is apparently very nice but we haven't made it up there yet...maybe this year!
- Also further away but a good day trip out is Avignon, which we combined with a trip to the Pont du Gard, which is beautiful. Because we combined it with the morning in Avignon we only went to the river and bridge, but there is also a museum. This year we're hoping to do the museum and then stay later into the evening when I believe the bridge is lit up.
- Turn right out of the campsite and drive the route de Gorges d'Ardeche, which takes you over the top of the gorges...we did it in the evening when it was almost deserted and the sun was starting to set of the gorges and the river. Absolutely stunning and so peaceful.
- If it's the kind of thing you like, there's a crazy golf course literally right over the road from the campsite.
Some of the other suggestions we haven't managed to do yet, and are hoping to fit in this year, but if the weather is with you it's a great place to be, just being by the river. We always said we'd never go back somewhere as there are so many lovely places to see, but the Ardeche gorges just keep pulling us back.
Thanks WakeyWakey - we do enjoy river swimming so La Beaume and Baluzac are on the list, ditto the Cave.
Last time we were in France we weren't far from Avignon, and 'did' the Cascades de Sautedet and Pont du Gard - loved them both and would go back but we're northernish Ardeche so too much of a drive. We didn't make Avignon either, despite me wanting to dance on the bridge - it was just toooo hot at the time we went. Good to hear you have enjoyed the area and the drive down the gorge 'ceiling' is also on our list, nice idea of the sunset cruise
Enjoy your own trip.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
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Topic: Upper Ardeche guide book
