the Tourist Office Ardèche mountain

For those who like to venture into nature, our region offers a multitude of hikes marked and suitable for all levels. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, you will inevitably find a walk that will meet your desires and allow you to contemplate the exceptional landscapes of our territory.

1. Peaceful walk along rivers and waterfalls
2. Sports course in the mountains for the most daring
3. Hiking around lakes and bodies of water

Also, don't forget that the Montagne d'Ardèche is ideal for mountain biking. By mountain bike you can discover our region from another angle and enjoy its spectacular panoramas!

Winter is also a good season to come and explore the Ardèche. The snow then covers the landscape, providing a majestic setting for your snowshoe or cross-country ski escapades. For an original experience, you can even try a dog sled outing and share a unique moment with these exceptional animals.

The Croix de Bauzon resort offers 11 downhill ski slopes, as well as a play area for children and a circuit dedicated to cross-country skiing. You can also try Nordic ski touring. Finally, treat yourself to unforgettable laughs thanks to the sleds and snow buoys!

The Chavade Nordic area, for its part, allows you to taste all the joys of snow: snowshoe hikes, traditional tobogganing or snow tubing, cross-country or hiking skiing, biathlon, outings with dogs. sled.

The winter activities program appears every year in December. Don't miss the one for the 2024 winter holidays!

Throughout the year, Ardèche offers a wide range of cultural, festive and friendly events. Local markets, regularly organized in our picturesque villages, will allow you to discover and taste local products.

Discover the two star products of the region, which benefit from the AOP designation (protected designation of origin): Fin Gras meat from Mézenc and chestnuts, of course!

Fin Gras du Mézenc AOP is a seasonal beef, coming from animals raised exclusively on grass and hay on the Mézenc terroir. The appellation concerns 194 breeders applying the ancestral breeding methods of our region. AOP meat is only distributed in 142 traditional butchers, from February to June.

For its part, the Ardèche AOP chestnut comes in three specialties: fresh chestnut, dried chestnut and chestnut flour. Production, harvesting and processing respect traditional methods and are carried out in the AOP geographical area, according to precise specifications. Many products are also made from Ardèche AOP chestnuts: jams, creams, cakes, etc.

Ardèche is rich in terroir and a living gastronomic tradition. During your stay, don't miss the region's unmissable specialties:
• maôche, a specialty of the Ardèche plateau, made from sausage meat and stuffed cabbage cooked in a pork belly;
• abomasum, a charcuterie specialty made from pork, vegetables such as spinach, salads, herbs and aromatics;
• goat's or cow's cheese, particularly artisous cheeses, made on the Velay plateaus from raw milk;
• local charcuterie, particularly tasty and renowned.
And do you know the Bistrots de Pays de la Montagne d’Ardèche? These establishments guarantee you quality service and “Goûtez l’Ardèche®” labeled products for an authentic gourmet experience.

Throughout the seasons, the Montagne d'Ardèche vibrates to the rhythm of the local festivals and events that enliven our territory. Concerts, shows, children's activities... you're bound to find an event that suits you! Don't hesitate to consult our events program to plan your outings and stock up on souvenirs.

The local associations, very active and passionate, organize concerts and balls in season, as well as occasionally during the rest of the year. The tourist office organizes the “Les nuits des Monts” festival, which offers four concerts with varied musical styles, scheduled between July 14 and August 15 in four different villages. Book your tickets online from the end of June.

Find all the events in Montagne d’Ardèche here.

For swimming enthusiasts, the Montagne d'Ardèche has no shortage of spots where you can cool off. Whether in the crystal clear waters of the rivers, the emerald-colored lakes or the natural swimming pools, you will always find an ideal place to take a dip. If you are a thrill-seeker, opt for a canyoning descent.

To fully enjoy your stay campsite in Ardèche, we offer you a wide choice of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets: campsites with large and comfortable pitches, warm and functional chalets offering all the necessary comfort. Whatever your preference, don't hesitate to check out our offers and book your next cozy nest now!

The Montagne d'Ardèche and Haut-Vivarais, to the north, offer a superb panorama from Les Boutières and Mont Mézenc, the highest point of the department. The Middle Vivarais, with its steep and rocky landscapes, unfolds in the center, while the south or Bas-Vivarais is occupied by the Ardèche basin.

Ardèche is also the cradle of the Loire, the longest river in France which has its source at Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc in the Ardèche Mountains. There are finally thousands of hectares of forest including the forest of Mazan but also green pastures in the Mézenc massif.

A contrasting department par excellence, Ardèche also stands out in terms of climate. Indeed, while the north offers temperate conditions, the mountainous regions are extremely cold and windy in winter. The south of the department, for its part, enjoys a Mediterranean climate.

One of the advantages of this variability lies in the choice of activities it allows. From winter sports to water sports, from hiking to mountain biking, from climbing to caving, there is something for everyone.

The Montagne d'Ardèche, very popular in summer, remains a little haven of freshness when the heatwave stifles the south of the department: swimming in lakes and rivers, hiking and other activities are practiced in the open air, allowing our visitors to take a big breath of rejuvenating fresh air.

Tourism occupies a preponderant place in Ardèche with nearly sixteen million overnight stays estimated in 2023. Ardèche is also the leading department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in cycle tourism and green tourism. The three spa resorts, the villages of character and those labeled “Most beautiful villages in France”, the Global Geopark label and the listing of the Chauvet cave as a UNESCO world heritage site, the presence of the largest animal park in the ARA region are all assets for Ardèche. The Gerbier-Mézenc natural area is also a candidate for the Grand Sites de France label.

Although a rural department, with only 59 inhabitants per square kilometer, Ardèche is also a lively territory, which brings together numerous associations and has a dynamic economy. The services sector brings together more than half of Ardèche businesses and 70% of jobs, followed by commerce (14 jobs), construction, industry and agriculture.

Much more than a tourist destination, Ardèche is a department where life is good. Who knows, maybe your visit to the Montagne d’Ardèche will make you want to settle there for good!