The Ardèche is one of the most popular destinations for camping holidays. With its medieval villages, the Chauvet Cave and the Pont d’Arc bridge spanning the Ardèche River, the department is brimming with places to visit and beautiful landscapes. Add to that a sunny climate, and there’s no reason not to take your caravan, tent or motorhome to the Ardèche.
Our selection of campsites in Ardèche
Camping in Ardèche: holidays by the water
Camping holidays in Ardèche are above all holidays by the water. The Ardèche, which winds its way from the Ardèche mountains to join the Rhône at Bollène, is obviously the main river in the department. At Vallon Pont d’Arc, it has carved a spectacular natural bridge (60 metres high) into the rock, which forms the gateway to the Ardèche gorges, an unmissable visit during any camping holiday in the Ardèche. This 22-kilometre-long canyon is lined with limestone cliffs over 250 metres high. It can be explored from the riverbed during a canoe trip, a must for any stay in the Ardèche. However, don’t miss the opportunity to admire it from the viewpoints set up on the heights, a way to appreciate the meanders of the river in the Ardèche landscape. The banks of the Ardèche are dotted with campsites right by the water, often ideal for stays in tents, caravans or motorhomes. These campsites have beaches where you can swim in the river or enjoy activities such as paddleboarding.
Ardèche Gorges
However, the Ardèche is not the only river that flows through the department. Although the Chassezac Gorges are less famous than the Ardèche Gorges, they are just as worth visiting, offering beautiful walks and canoe trips. They also have some lovely swimming spots, as do the Eyrieux and Beaume rivers. In the Ardèche mountains, dominated by Mont Gerbier de Jonc, where the Loire has its source, you can opt for the peaceful waters of a lake rather than the rapids of the rivers, with Lake Issarlès stretching over 97 hectares in the crater of an ancient volcano. There are so many opportunities for swimming during your camping holiday in Ardèche. And when it’s not suitable for swimming, the water creates some beautiful sites in Ardèche, such as the Ray Pic waterfalls. Originating in the volcanic landscapes of northern Ardèche, these two waterfalls plunge 50 metres among the basalt columns. A short 15-minute hike takes you to a viewpoint where you can admire them.
Charming villages near your campsite in Ardèche
One of the Ardèche’s assets is its charming villages. These medieval villages, built entirely of stone, cling to cliffs or nestle in the meanders of rivers. Wherever your campsite is located in the Ardèche, you will find delightful villages to explore. Balazuc, Voguë and Labeaume are among the most beautiful villages in Ardèche. Some, such as Ruoms and the medieval town of Joyeuse, come alive on market days. This is an opportunity to sample some Ardèche specialities such as marron glacé (candied chestnuts).
Prehistoric Ardèche
The Ardèche is a rocky region. Over time, water has carved caves into these rocks, which served as shelters for prehistoric humans. In some of them, they left traces of their passage on the walls. In Vallon Pont d’Arc, the Chauvet Cave, or decorated cave of Pont d’Arc, is a true masterpiece of cave art. Here you can admire the oldest wall paintings known to date. In order to preserve it, a 3,000 m² facsimile has been created. It is this facsimile that is now open to the public. To learn more about prehistory in the Ardèche, you can complete your discovery of the Chauvet Cave with a visit to the Cité de la Préhistoire. This museum space recounts a history that began nearly 350,000 years ago in Ardèche. The Cité is adjacent to the Grand Site de l’Aven d’Orgnac. This cave offers a breathtaking spectacle with its gigantic stalactites and stalagmites. It’s an enchanting visit to enjoy on hot days during your camping holiday in Ardèche.
Leave a Review