Ardèche Gorge

Ardèche Gorge

 

 

Location: South Central France  Map

Length: 125 km

Height: 12,316 ft (3,754 m)

 

Description of Ardèche Gorge

Ardèche Gorge carved by Ardeche river (tributary of River Rhône) is situated in the South Central France. High limestone cliffs of Ardèche Gorge reach a height of 300 m, while its pristine forests is a favorite destination for kayaking, canoeing and swimming. Renting is also available here. Two day kayak rental is about 50 Euros for two or three days per person. Most of people start at Pont d'Arc, a natural arch that is considered a gateway to the Ardeche Valley. Summers is the best time to visit the location. In Spring and Fall seasons flash floods (locally known as "shots of the Ardèche") are common in the area. These are fairly dangerous in the narrow gorge.

 

Pont d'Arc

 

Pont d'Arc or Arch Bridge is a natural geologic formation situated 5 km from a town of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. It is considered to be an entrance of the Ardeche Gorge. It measures 60 m wide and 54 m high.

 

Chauvet Cave or Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave

 

Chauvet Cave is situated near Pont d'Arc Natural Arch. It was discovered in 1994 by three speleologists: Eliette Brunel-Deschamps, Christian Hillaire, and Jean-Marie Chauvet. The cave was called after the last discoverer. The cave they accessed is about 400 meters long. Explorers discovered incredible rock art made by the prehistoric people who lived in the cave during Upper Paleolithic period. Numerous life like depictions of animals that lived 30,000- 32,000 years ago cover walls of the cave. Many of those are now extinct in Europe. The most famous are the Horse Panel and the Panel of Lions and Rhinoceroses. Other animals and birds include red deer, reindeer, musk oxen, panther, ibex and many others. The original entrance was covered by a land slide. This sealed the cave as a time capsule thus preserving ancient art. Unfortunately previous experience taught scientists that large number of tourists damage paintings. Thus the cave was closed to the public as soon as it was discovered. Hopefully this will change in the future.

 

Grotte de la Madeleine

Camping Sites in the Ardeche Region

 

Bois Simonet
+33 (0)4 75 39 58 60
Camping le Retourtier
+33 (0)4 75 37 77 67
France Ardeche Camping
+33 (0)4 75 36 44 35
Camping le Barutel
+33 (0)4 75 38 03 78
Camping les Oliviers
+33 (0)4 75 39 55 42
Camping Le Sous Perret
+33 (0)4 75 39 50 54Camping Chavetourte
+33 (0)4 75 93 95 83

Camping la Chareyrasse
+33 (0)4 42 54 29 25

Camping les Oliviers
+33 (0)4 75 39 55 42
Camping de Jastres
+33 (0)4 75 35 04 39
Camping La Grenouille
+33 (0)4 66 82 21 36

Camping Les Chadenèdes
+33 (0)4 75 39 09 19
Camping de Jastres
+33 (0)4 75 35 04 39

Camping le Casque Roi
+33 (0)4 75 88 04 23
Camping Les Chadenèdes
+33 (0)4 75 39 09 19

Camping le Riviera
33 (0)4 75 39 67 57
Sun Camping
+33 (0)4 75 39 76 12

Ceven'Hébergement
+33 (0)4 75 94 98 68Camping Mas de la Source
+33 (0)4 75 39 67 98

Camping les Pins d'Ucel
+33 (0)4 75 37 49 20

Camping la Drobie
+33 (0)4 75 36 95 22
SunVacances
+33 (0)4 75 93 13 94

Le Razal
+33 (0)6 50 48 85 66
Camping le pontet
+33 (0)4 75 04 63 07

Camping La Grenouille
+33 (0)4 66 82 21 36
Camping de Jastres
+33 (0)4 75 35 04 39

 

Camping des Issoux
+33 (0)4 75 94 14 09
Camping Le Saint Michelet
+33 (0)4 66 82 24 99
Les Marronniers
+33 (0)4 75 36 82 54
Camping du Moulinage
+33 (0)4 42 54 29 25
Camping La Buissière
+33 (0)4 66 24 54 52Camping La Plaine
+33 (0)4 75 39 51 35

Camping du Vignal
+33 (0)4 75 36 66 66

Camping Actinidias
+33 (0)4 75 37 29 06

Camping le Carpenty
+33 (0)4 75 39 74 29
Le Moulin de Charrier
+33 (0)4 75 87 50 40
Camping le Riviera
33 (0)4 75 39 67 57

Camping des Gorges
+33 (0)4 75 04 61 09
Camping Les Chadenèdes
+33 (0)4 75 39 09 19

Camping de La Plage
+33 (0)4 75 04 69 46
Camping le Chantalou
+33 (0)4 75 35 25 80
Camping Le Saint Michelet
+33 (0)4 66 82 24 99
Le Chauvieux
+33 (0)4 75 88 05 37
Camping Beaume Giraud
+33 (0)4 75 89 09 36
Le Razal
+33 (0)6 50 48 85 66

Camping de la Claysse
+33 (0)4 75 35 40 65
Camping de la Claysse
+33 (0)4 75 35 40 65

Le Coin Charmant
+33 (0)4 75 35 94 13

Le Camp des Gorges
+33 (0)4 75 88 00 05
L'Oasis des Garrigues
+33 (0)4 75 37 03 27

Camping Les Civelles d'Ozon
+33 (0)4 75 65 01 86
Camping du Pont d'Arc
+33 (0)4 75 88 64