Circuit N°7 Bis - 140 kms
From Ardèche river to the doors of
the South
SALAVAS
:
96 m. Feudal Castle -private property-. Site of La
Gleyzasse. Typical houses and streets. Dolmens.
LABASTIDE-DE-VIRAC
:
260 m. Le château des Roure –15th c castle - (Historic
building, traditional silkworm farming). Lectured
tour. Furnished hall, numerous archive documents,
weapons and antique tools, pathway around the
battlements.
ORGNAC L'AVEN :
300 m. Prehistoric excavations near the chasm- baume
de Ronze -. School of prehistory. Nice church.
Orgnac Chasm is one of France’s most beautiful caves
–listed as a 3 stars cave- for both the dimension of
its chambers and the variety they offer.
Regional Museum of Prehistory. Cave of La Forestière
– easily accessible – with a zoo hosting
cavernicolous animals.
VAGNAS
:
230 m. Medieval site of Le Monastier. Ancient
Castel. Archaeological and
medieval vestiges. Roman kilometre marker, roman way,
dolmen. Golf driving range.
BESSAS
:
296 m. South west of Vallon Pont d'Arc, Bessas
enjoys an exceptionnel period of sunshine due to its
location. Its old stoned houses have all been
renovated and fill the visitors with admiration. Its
castle flanked by four towers, property of the
marquis Beauvoir du Roure, now living in the castle
of Barjac was acquired in 1820 by four inhabitants
of Bessas who shared it between them.
VALLON-PONT-D'ARC
:
100 m. The Louis XIII style Castle –today the town
hall- hosts Aubusson tapestries. Descending of the
Ardèche Gorges by canoë, kayak , on foot or by boat.
Silkworm farm at les Mazes - living display of
silkworms -.
Tourist Route of les Gorges de l'Ardèche with the
famous "Pont d'Arc" –natural arch higher than 60 m.
Numerous belvederes offer vertiginous views of wild
sites. Nudist camp. Chauvet Cave – it can't be
visited – permanent exhibition in the village. It
probably hosts the oldest cave paintings in the
world, temple.
SAINT-MARTIN D'ARDECHE
:
46 m. Village bordering the river at the end of the
scenic route of the Ardèche Gorges. Le Bosquet
castle from 16th c: quadrilateral building with its
4 eroded towers. Suspension bridge spanning the
river Ardèche – Romanesque Style Church of the 12th
c.
SAINT-JUST-D'ARDECHE
:
63 m. Stands above the meeting point where the river
Ardèche joins the river Rhône.The "Pont Cassé" beach.
Three saracen towers –one of them is restored-.
Gallo-Roman vestiges. Church with a romanesque door.
Notre Dame-des-Victoires oratory from the 19th c.
SAINT-MARCEL D'ARDECHE
:
132 m. Pleasant village with shady squares, old
streets, fountains and old washing places. Parish
church with a 12th c portal. Penitents' chapel. For
a visit to St Sulpice romanesque chapel –listed as a
historic monument-, head for the hamlet of Trignan.
St Marcel Cave, sound and light shows. Megalithic
monument, Menhirs, Dolmens, Botanic path.
BOURG-SAINT-ANDÉOL
:
68 m. Places to be seen: Mithra low relief and the "gouls
de Tourne" site. 12th c romanesque church St
Polycarpe chapel. Nicolai Tower. Former Récollets'
convent. Former Ursulines' monastery. Palace of
Viviers' bishops. Numerous 13th c mansions. The
quays. The fountains- Lectured tour of the town by
the tourist office.
SAINT-MONTAN:
62 m. Listed as "village full of character" –
Medieval fortified village with cobbled and arched
alleys. San Samonta Romanesque Church of the 12th c
listed as a historic monument. Marie Madeleine 19th
c Church. St André de Mitroys 12th c Chapel –restored
and listed- Feudal Castel of the 11th c with its
pigeon house. The whole of the historic heritage is
restored by "l'association des amis de st Montan".
The market town is illuminated in the summertime.
Banks of the Rhône and La Conche Gorges. The Ermite
cave in the Gorges of Val Chaud.
LARNAS :
300 m. Beautiful 12th c Romanesque church listed as
a Historic Monument. Panoramic view. La Ste Beaume
route.
< Circuit N°7 - 120 kms
