Ardèche and Drôme are the two southernmost departments of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-central France. They feature rolling hills and low mountain ranges, deep canyons, an almost Mediterranean climate and vegetation.
Cities
[edit]
- 1 Privas
— capital of Ardèche - 2 Valence — capital of Drôme
- Alba-la-Romaine
- 3 Annonay
- 4 Aubenas
- 5 Die
- 6 Lagorce
- 7 Largentière
- Nyons
- 8 Orgnac l'Aven
- 9 Tournon-sur-Rhone
- 10 Uzer
- 11 Buis-les-Baronnies
- 12 Vallon Pont d'Arc in the Gorges de l'Ardèche
Other destinations
[edit]- 1 Gorges de l'Ardèche — 30-km-long canyons along the Ardèche river, cut deeply into the limestone plateau, paradise for canoeists
- 2 Vercors — massif of the Prealps at the north end of the Drôme.
Understand
[edit]
Unlike the rest of the former Rhône-Alpes region, Ardèche and Drôme are usually considered to be part of Southern France, in terms of both climate and culture. A popular French rhyme goes: « c'est à Valence que le Midi commence » ("The South begins at Valence"). Especially in Drôme, lavender fields (that are commonly associated with Provence) are not an unusual sight.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]The closest major airport is Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS IATA). There are direct TGV high-speed trains from the airport to Valence Ville (downtown station), taking 30 minutes.
By train
[edit]Valence is served by the TGV high-speed rail link Paris–Lyon–Marseille. Going from Paris to Valence takes 2 hr 10 min, from Lyon 35 minutes, from Marseille one hour. At Valence you may connect to regional trains.
By car
[edit]Ardèche and Drôme can be reached by car with motorway (autoroute) A7 from Lyon or Avignon and Marseille, which runs in north-south direction along the border shared by the two departments, passing Valence, Privas, Montélimar. Northern Drôme is also accessible via A 49 from Chambéry/Grenoble.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]
Do
[edit]- 1 Canyonning in the Haut Chassezac. The Haut Chassezac offer a beautiful canyon which is accessible for everyone to practice canyonning.
- Climbing. Wt Buis les Baronnies.
- Canoeing. On the Ardèche and Drôme rivers.
Eat
[edit]- Picodon — a cheese made in Drôme.
Drink
[edit]- Clairette de Die. A natural sparkling white wine made around Die village.
Sleep
[edit]Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]Neighbouring departments and regions:
- Isère to the northeast
- Loire to the north
- Vaucluse to the south
- Gard to the south
- Lozère to the west
- Auvergne to the northwest