These are typical examples of viscous lava needles that have moved into place almost in a solid state. Here no craters but massive shapes in the landscape. Interpretation table between the two rocks.
The Roches de Borée are like a set of phonolitic domes exposed by erosion. Similar to the surrounding peaks (the Pialoux rock, the Gouleïou, the Touron peak), they bear witness to volcanism where the craters remain invisible.
Located immediately in the background of Lac d'Issarles, they allow you to imagine what the topography was like when they were put in place 8.2 million years ago.
This superb Strombolian volcano overlooks Lake Issarlès. From its summit, you can see a 380° view of the Ardèche Mountains. A marked hike can take you to its heights.
Geologically, the Rocher des Pradoux corresponds to an isolated phonolitic, volcanic rock bar.
"Les Coux", a toponym used by the IGN, is actually called the Suc de "Leckous", this volcano is also known under the name, of Celtic origin, of "Lech'ous". The Suc de Leckous is a plateau in the shape of a crescent moon.
According to legend, after winning a battle against the English in 1387, the 3 lords of the Polignac region, Bourbal de Choisinet and d'Agrain, engraved their weapons on granite stones at the top of 3 rocks. Remarkable viewpoint
This maar is a superb example of phreatomagmatic volcanic activity. The operation is characterized by an intense explosive activity caused by the meeting of the hot magma during the ascent with the waters infiltrated from the surface.
Come and discover the beautiful chestnut groves of Ardèche with Pourettes, Négrettes, Rastes, Bastardes, Embournière… so many things to know and savor around chestnuts. Guided tours of castaneicultures.
The Sagne Redonde bog occupies the bottom of the crater of an ancient volcano created about 2 million years ago. It contributes to the preservation of water resources. On the site, an explanatory plaque will give you more information.
This ancient volcano, 1413 meters high, overlooks the village of Plagnal. You will enjoy a superb view of the Ardèche Mountains, the Margeride and the Cévennes. Accessible by car on a passable road.
Discover the 3 main sources of the Loire: the authentic, the geographical and the true, which will give birth to the longest river in France (1 km), via the 012km Loire sources trail.
The temperature of the spring is 53° and it is located in the center of the village. The origin is not volcanic. It is surface water that has infiltrated along large faults. In depth, it has warmed up and become loaded with minerals.
The Loire has its cradle at the foot of this astonishing natural belvedere 1551 m high. The ascent will allow you, after 30 minutes of climbing, to admire a 360° panorama. On a clear day, you will be able to see the whiteness of Mont Blanc.
The Suc de Montat is located on the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In order to make the latter visible, sights have been installed by the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park, playing on perception and optics.
The junction of the sources of the Loire, at the mill of Ligeret, is the place of all the postcards.
The oldest mountain beech in France in all its splendour, more than 400 years old...
This source corresponds to the official source indicated on the cadastral plan n° 87. It flows in a natural environment, it comes out of the ground in a meadow, under a stone which bears the inscription “here begins my road to the ocean”.
The "authentic source" symbolizes, by the monument erected in 1938 by the Touring Club of France, the source of the Loire. Nearby, a triptych of information on the Gerbier-de-Jonc platform and the Maison de site.
The peat bogs of La Rochette are located in the Monts d'Ardèche regional natural park, they are open to the public, they do not fail to seduce with their wild and confidential sides.
The Bauzon suc is a Strombolian cone culminating at 1471m. Its summit is shared between 4 communes: Le Roux, Montpezat, St Cirgues en Montagne and Usclades and Rieutord. Its locally thick flow of 30-40m spread into the bed of the Loire over 8km
The five peaks are dome-shaped Pelean volcanoes from the same family as the famous Mont Gerbier de Jonc. Their names are: Montfol, Sépoux, Séponet, Taupernas and Lauzière.
A maar-type volcano, the artificial lake is partly nestled in a vast explosion crater whose edges can be seen. It is possible to walk around it (1,5 km). Fishing lake. Water sports centre and supervised swimming in July and August.
The lake is located below the village in a preserved setting. Fishing lake. Water sports center and supervised swimming in July-August. Snack bar and refreshment bar on site in summer. Possibility to walk around it (1,6 km).
Sub-lacustrine volcano, the panorama of the cross opens on the needles of viscous lava of the surroundings of Borée. The walk towards the Cirque des Boutières will allow you to find the shape of the ancient volcano which occupied the site.
Discover the Laoune volcano which overlooks the village of Coucouron and from which you will have a breathtaking view. It is a Strombolian volcano which at the end of the day is reflected in the blue waters of the lake.
Culminating at 1753 m, Mont Mézenc is an immense natural barrier that determines the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Mézenc is a complex phonolithic dome formed by the coalescence of several lava flows.
The Ardèche has its source at an altitude of 1 m near the Col de la Chavade, in the forest of Mazan in the commune of Astet.
Facing West-East in a triangle formed to the South by the Mont Gerbier de Jonc, to the North by the Suc de Sara and to the West the village and the lake of Saint Martial, the Pradal Valley is protected by its unique access.
Alpine marmots were introduced between 1980 and 1991 in the outskirts of Mont Mézenc, from the Gandoulet site. In 2011, more than 125 family groups were identified around this massif.
The volcanic juice of Gouléïou takes its name from the particular site it occupies. “Gouléïou” comes in fact from “goulet”, that is to say “col”. It is a relief formed of phonolite, a clear volcanic rock enriched in silica.
Lake Issarlès is one of the jewels of the Ardèche Mountains. It fills an old maar crater and stretches over 97 ha at an altitude of 1000 m with an exceptional depth of 108 metres. Fishing lake. Water sports centre and supervised swimming in summer
The Suc de Montivernoux offers a panoramic view of the Alps and Mont Ventoux, in the heart of the splendours and curiosities of the Ardéchoise Mountain.
In the heart of the Ardèche plateau, at an altitude of 1200 metres, the Tuilière peat bog extends into a basin on wooded slopes. For safety reasons, do not get too close.
It flows in a stone trough inside an old renovated farmhouse with a Lauze roof. It is possible to drink water directly from the source.
This maar is a superb example of phreatomagmatic volcanic activity. The operation is characterized by an intense explosive activity caused by the meeting of the hot magma during the ascent with the waters infiltrated from the surface.
A Pelean volcano is of the extrusive type, that is to say that it involves a viscous magma, not very rich in gas, building domes. Depending on the viscosity of the lava, the domes can be built according to several shapes.
A maar-type volcano, the artificial lake is partly nestled in a vast explosion crater, the edges of which can be guessed. The sap of Lestrat dominates the lake, a remnant of an old lava needle partly destroyed by the setting up of the crater.
The sap of Touron near Borée, is a volcano characterized by a blue phonolite presenting a formation in blocks of parallelepiped shapes. It is close to the Roches de Borée and the Gouleïou juice. Many screes are visible on the slopes.
The Suc de Sara is located at the eastern limit of the Mézenc massif. The slopes are steep, the altitude varying from 1100m. to 1521m. Unlike the vast open expanses of the west of the massif, the natural environments here are composed of forests and scree.
The Gorges are a natural wonder. At the foot of the Tour de Borne, come and dive into natural, wild and preserved pools, waterfalls and breathtaking viewpoints. A paradise for fishermen and trout lovers. Unsupervised swimming.