The Ardeche Gorges: a spectacular canyon

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In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, between Orange and Montelimar, a few kilometers from Pont Saint Esprit, there is one of the natural wonders of France, the Ardeche Gorges (Gorges de l’Ardeche). Ardeche is a river that flows impetuously in an uncontaminated natural landscape, in the midst of deep gorges that it has dug over the millennia.

The course of the Ardeche river presents a suggestive natural landscape, among the most beautiful in Europe. The area is known for its climate and for the many opportunities to do outdoor sports, such as canoeing, trekking and kayaking.

Over the past 110 million years, the Ardeche River has carved a deep furrow in the plateau it crosses between the towns of Vallon Pont d’Arc and Saint Martin d’Ardeche. The landscape is spectacular: for over 35 km it is possible to admire wild and deep gorges with walls that reach 300 meters in height.

At Pont d’Arc, there is probably the most photographed point of the whole canyon. A huge natural arch 60 meters high.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: WHAT TO VISIT IN THE GORGES DE L’ARDECHE

Along the 50 km panoramic road between Saint-Martin d’Ardeche and Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, there are numerous panoramic points from which you can admire the wonderful landscape of the Ardeche gorges.

The most beautiful stretch of the road is the one called Haute Corniche where the viewpoints of the Coutelle, Rouviere, Maladrerie, Templiers and Cathédrale are located.

The most exciting surprise is at the end of the route when you reach Pont d’Arc, a natural arch, 60 meters high, under which the river flows, here you can take a canoe trip inside the gorges.

Continuing further you reach other spectacular places such as the Cirque de Gens and the medieval village of Balazuc.

TO VISIT IN THE SURROUNDINGS: Le Pont du Diable in Thueyts (60 km from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc). The medieval village of Balazuc (10 km from Roums). The Cirque de Gens with les Défilés de Ruoms in Chauzon (4 km from Roums). The caves of the Avenue d’Orgnac, of the Madeleine and the cave of Combe d ‘Arc with paleolithic paintings (Vallon-Pont-d’Arc). The particular rocky forest of Païolive (30 km from Roums). The rock of Sampzon (Roums).