Ardèche and Drôme

Ardèche and Drôme are the two southernmost departments of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-central France. They feature rolling hills and low mountain ranges, deep canyons, an almost Mediterranean climate and vegetation.

Natural gate Pont d'Arc on Ardèche river, landmark of the eponymous department

Cities

• 1 Privas — the capital of Ardèche has many local walks and other recreational activities; it is also noted for fossils.
• 2 Valence — capital of Drôme colourful markets and gardens, and its welcoming pedestrian streets make it the "door to Provence"
• 3 Alba-la-Romaine — the 16th-century Château of Alba is listed in the Inventory of Historic Monuments and is open to the public
• 4 Annonay
• 5 Aubenas sits at the crossroads of a regional natural park, the Ardèche river canyon, and the start of mountains
• 6 Die — a destination for summer camping and for winter sports at the Col du Rousset ski station
• 7 Lagorce — a medieval village with a living silkworm museum
• 8 Largentière has a 12th- to 15th-century château, and a 13th-century church
• 9 Orgnac l'Aven — has a cave that can be explored by tour
• 10 Tournon-sur-Rhone — has the oldest suspension bridge in France, and the Château de Tournon has a museum and commanding views over the Rhône
• 11 Uzer
• 12 Buis-les-Baronnies — a mountain village that provides hiking, climbing, and other outdoor sports opportunities
• 13 Vallon Pont d'Arc — the nearby cave of Pont d’Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site decorated by well-preserved prehistoric drawings of human figures and animals

Other destinations

• 1 Gorges de l'Ardèche — 30-km-long canyons along the Ardèche river, cut deeply into the limestone plateau, paradise for canoeists
• 2 Vercors — massif of the Prealps at the north end of the Drôme.

Understand

Lavender field in the Baronnies region of Drôme

Unlike the rest of the former Rhône-Alpes region, Ardèche and Drôme are usually considered to be part of Southern France, in terms of both climate and culture. A popular French rhyme goes: « c'est à Valence que le Midi commence » ("The South begins at Valence"). Especially in Drôme, lavender fields (that are commonly associated with Provence) are not an unusual sight.

Get in

By plane

The closest major airport is Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS ^IATA). There are direct TGV high-speed trains from the airport to Valence Ville (downtown station), taking 30 minutes.

By train

Valence is served by the TGV high-speed rail link Paris–Lyon–Marseille. Going from Paris to Valence takes 2 hr 10 min, from Lyon 35 minutes, from Marseille one hour. At Valence you may connect to regional trains.

By car

Ardèche and Drôme can be reached by car with motorway (autoroute) A7 from Lyon or Avignon and Marseille, which runs in north-south direction along the border shared by the two departments, passing Valence, Privas, Montélimar. Northern Drôme is also accessible via A 49 from Chambéry/Grenoble.

See

Bell tower of the church of Laurac-en-Vivarais, which is covered with glazed tiles

Do

• Climbing: Buis-les-Baronnies.
• Canoeing on the Ardèche and Drôme rivers.

Eat

• Picodon — a cheese made in Drôme.

Drink

• Clairette de Die. A natural sparkling white wine made around Die village. 

Go next

Neighbouring departments and regions:

• Isère to the northeast
• Loire to the north
• Vaucluse to the south
• Gard to the south
• Lozère to the west
• Auvergne to the northwest