The Cévennes Ardéchoises

The remote Cévennes Ardéchoises, prosperous and autonomous in days gone by, is an area in the south-west of Ardèche between the Lozère and Gard regions. It is a perfect destination for families and couples wanting a country holiday or for groups of sporting enthusiasts seeking thrills and adventure !    The area is steeped in history with character villages, architectural treasures and traditional arts and crafts. Ardèche is a region of amazingly diverse scenery and the Cévennes is no exception with villages, waterfalls, winding roads, hills and magnificent landscapes, you simply won’t know which way to look !

Take your time to explore this beautiful, unspoilt nature and slowly follow the winding roads in the steps of our ancestors, admiring the terraces known as « Faïsses », dry stone walls and chestnut groves which are a reminder of farming in bygone days in Ardèche. A tranquil setting, yet one which is teeming with life.

The most attractive features of the Cévennes Ardéchoises are without a doubt its flora and breathtaking scenery. If you arrive from Bas Vivarais in the south, you will be surprised by the change in vegetation. The south of Ardèche has the scents of the ‘garrigue’, vines, lavender and thyme, whereas the Cévennes Ardéchoises is dominated by chestnut trees which have provided food for generations of local inhabitants, extremely proud of their land. Intrepid visitors who take to the hills are rewarded by spectacular views of neighbouring regions. To the south-east Mont Ventoux stands like a sentry opposite Mont Gerbier de Jonc in the Rhone-Alpes. To the east, the Vercors range is easily identifiable thanks to its 3 Becs (the summits of Le Veyou, Le Sigal and Roche Courbe). Even further to the east and higher up, you will see the Barre des Écrins which features many large glaciers.

Finally, when the weather is fine, you can marvel at Mont Blanc, the snow-capped rooftop of Europe. To the north, the ‘Montagne Ardéchoise’ awaits in the form of Le Tanargue, its unmissable range of mountains, nicknamed « Montagne du Tonnerre (Thunder mountains) » !  They lie on the drainage divide between the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The views from the summits are spectacular, right across the Cévennes Ardéchoises. There are lots of footpaths and mountain bike tracks on Le Tanargue; you can even take to the air and go paragliding !