Ardeche: Gorges, Chauvet Cave, and Chestnut Country
Ardeche is known for the Gorges de l'Ardeche, a canyon through limestone country that is one of France's most popular canoe and kayak destinations. The Pont d'Arc, a natural stone arch spanning the river, was already famous before the discovery in 1994 of the Chauvet Cave nearby, which contains the oldest known figurative cave paintings in the world (roughly 36,000 years old). A replica, the Caverne du Pont d'Arc, opened in 2015.
Privas, the prefecture, is one of the smallest prefectures in France. The department has about 333,000 residents. The chestnuts of the Ardeche are celebrated in an annual festival. The Mont Gerbier de Jonc, a volcanic peak, is the traditional source of the Loire, France's longest river. The department's terraced hillsides, stone villages, and absence of motorways give it a timeless, somewhat isolated character.
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Ardeche is known for the Gorges de l'Ardeche, a canyon through limestone country that is one of France's most popular canoe and kayak destinations. The Pont d'Arc, a natural stone arch spanning the river, was already famous before the discovery in 1994 of the Chauvet Cave nearby, which contains the oldest known figurative cave paintings in the world (roughly 36,000 years old). A replica, the Caverne du Pont d'Arc, opened in 2015.
Privas, the prefecture, is one of the smallest prefectures in France. The department has about 333,000 residents. The chestnuts of the Ardeche are celebrated in an annual festival. The Mont Gerbier de Jonc, a volcanic peak, is the traditional source of the Loire, France's longest river. The department's terraced hillsides, stone villages, and absence of motorways give it a timeless, somewhat isolated character.
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