The Massif du Coiron
The Massif du Coiron – volcanic scenery, a paradise for walkers
Come and explore this gorgeous, little-known part of Ardèche - you won’t be disappointed ! Situated between the Rhone and the Ardèche mountains, the Massif du Coiron covers 200km² of the Bas Vivarais at altitudes varying from 650m to 850m. Its landscape has been forged through the ages by volcanic activity followed by erosion, making it a paradise for geology enthusiasts; it also has a rich historical heritage from its turbulent past.
Lovers of the great outdoors will not be disappointed as the walks and cycle rides are superb here. Whet your appetite with a journey across the Pays du Coiron to its highest point, the Crête de Blandine, which culminates at 1,017m above the Col de l’Escrinet where the famous sculpture of a goat by Pierre-Louis Chipon proudly stands guard over the valley.
The landscape of this volcanic plateau is punctuated with humps and slopes. The vast meadow pastures are surrounded by stone walls and thickets of beech, walnut and even box. On the edge of the Massif the number of oak and chestnut forests increases. At the beginning of summer, the countryside is alive with bright yellow broom, a plant which symbolises Ardèche. Then the plateau comes to a sudden halt at some surprising basalt cliffs overlooking limestone valleys. At the bottom of the slopes vines, cereals and orchards flourish in the fertile earth.
The Massif du Coiron – a marvellous heritage of character villages, hilltop villages and medieval villages
As you travel around the area, you will come across many delightful little villages which are wonderful places to live : St-Laurent-Sous-Coiron, a village ‘perché’ on a hilltop, has sumptuous views of the valley – Mirabel and its tower with breathtaking panoramic views – Berzème and its 16th century castle - St-Vincent-de-Barrès, a medieval village ‘perché’, classed as a character village – Rochemaure and its castle perched on a dike (ancient volcanic chimney) - Alba-la-Romaine, a character village with an ancient theatre and 16th century castle, plus many other charming villages.
A family walk of about an hour will take you to Balmes de Montbrun at St-Gineys-en-Coiron. Here you can see troglodyte homes hollowed out of the basalt perched above the village of St-Jean-le-Centenier and enjoy marvellous views of Mirabel. Another historic attraction which is well worth a visit is Oppidum de Jastres. A sign-posted trail from Lussac (an easy walk of 13km in total) leads to the listed historic site, a strategic military base and Gallic settlement dating from the 1st century B.C. Remains of the ramparts and dwellings are still visible. In addition, its position on the edge of the plateau offers magnificent views of the Ardèche Valley.
A stop off at Alba-la-Romaine is essential. This character village at the foot of the Massif du Coiron is surrounded by vines. It has a rich historical heritage including an ancient theatre, a ruined castle and a Renaissance château built on a volcanic dike. Take time to visit the Muséal, the archaeological museum in Alba-la-Romaine, which has many rare and unique items. During school holidays, the museum runs workshops for children with themes such as mosaic work. For six days at the beginning of July, the Festival of Alba-la-Romaine is in full swing in which scenes from village history are performed by circus artistes, clowns, musicians and actors.
Every August for the past 30 years, the Etats Généraux du Film Documentaire (Documentary Film Festival) has taken place in Lussas. This excellent festival has a very keen following and its films are also shown in small neighbouring villages. Don’t leave the area without spending a day at the Parc Animalier de Lussas where children can bottle feed baby kids and meet llamas and alpacas in their enclosure.
Continue your tour of Ardèche by going northward to the Gorges de l'Ardèche
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Le Magnan de Veyrière - Le Grand Cèdre
in SAINT MAURICE D'IBIE - Ardèche