Vacation in Ardèche

We decided to take a last minute vacation in the beautiful region of Ardèche. This gorgeous part of France is full of wilderness, stunning gorges, rivers surrounded by breathtaking mountains, zigzag roads, small medieval villages, French culinary delights and of course wine.

We stayed in a small Airbnb house, lost in the forest, far from civilization and the tourists. Each day we took a winding road with beautiful mountain views to explore popular spots around.

First we went to the very popular Vallon Pont d’Arc which is the natural stone bridge. There are small beaches along the way and you can see the canoes pulled up to shore. It’s the most popular activity in the area, I guess, because you can see them everywhere. The second thing you can see everywhere are campsites. You can see Dutch and Belgian car plates all around. They travel far from home, but it’s no surprise there’s plenty to see and do here.

Other day we visited small beautiful villages Vogüé, Balazuc and Labeaume. It is easy with the car, they are not so far from each other. Vogüé is ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, it is located in a limestone cliff and you can walk through many narrow alleys and arches of stone. You can walk up to the chapel and enjoy stunning views of the village and the beautiful natural landscape.

Balazuc is small medieval village perched on a cliff overlooking the Ardèche river. You can discover the place walking through charming labyrinth of tortuous streets, many arched passages, arcades and stairways. Not so baby buggy friendly though. Another attraction is a river bathing on the nearby beach with beautiful view on the cliffs.

Another village with character is Labeaume. Situated along the river, at the foot of steep limestone cliffs. Take a stroll around the picturesque maze of little streets, with covered passages and fine stone facades. By the edge of the river, the big square is shaded by hundred-year-old plane trees. It is the perfect place to have a drink in the summer heat. Not far from there is a bridge where you can enjoy a superb view of the whole village, surrounded by cliffs.

Next day we visited one of the most beautiful cave in France, La Cocalière. The constant temperature inside the cave is around 14 degrees, which was so refreshing. As well as the usual calcite concretions, stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes and sizes you can see here also fine draperies, or stripes of calcite, with semi-transparent growth striations hanging from the roof. Also stunning are clear or blue-tinged water of the natural pools. The cave is pretty long and the visit is around one hour long. But best part for our baby girl was the train at the end which takes you back to the reception area.

We saw many beautiful places and landscapes here in Ardèche. Even just driving around in the car was an amazing experience. I would recommend to visit this french region to everyone who loves nature, hiking, canoeing or beautiful small medieval villages. There is so much to see. Even hundreds of photos cannot show the true beauty of this place. It is just better to see it with your own eyes.