Gorges de l’Ardèche: one of the most beautiful canyons in France

This article is also available in: Italian

Between Saint-Martin d’Ardeche and Vallon-Pont-d’Arc is a canyon which creates one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in France, the Gorges de l’Ardèche. The Ardèche is a raging river that has formed a fantastic natural landscape, made up of deep gorges that the river has dug over the millennia.

The Ardèche river flows in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Europe, renowned for its climate and for the possibilities for sports, such as hiking, kayaking and canoeing. The river, over 110 million years, formed the gorges in which it now flows across the plateau. After passing Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, where there is a wonderful natural arch 60 meters high, the river flows in deep gorges lined with walls that can reach 300 meters in height. The gorges extend for more than 35 km between Vallon-Pont-d’Arc and Saint-Martin d’Ardeche.

The Ardèche gorges are visible from the 50km panoramic road linking Saint-Martin d’Ardeche and Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, along the way it is possible to stop at the many well-signposted viewpoints. The landscape that can be admired is among the most beautiful in this area of France at the end of the road on the Vallon-Pont-d’Arc side is the famous natural arch of Pont d’Arc, from here it is possible to rent canoes and kayaks and walk a stretch of the gorges along the river, or take a walk along one of the many trekking itineraries that run along the gorges.

In the surroundings are worth a visit: The beautiful medieval village of Balazuc. The medieval bridge of Thueyts (Pont du Diable). The numerous caves in the region including those of Combe d’Arc (Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc) with their paintings of the upper Paleolithic, the caves of l’Aven d’Orgnac, and of the Madeleine. In the area there are also interesting and particular rock formations such as the Cirque de Gens, the Défilés de l’Ardèche, the rock of Sampzon or the stone forest of Païolive.

This article is also available in: Italian