Ardèche by gravel bike

Your starting point is Livron-sur-Drôme, near the confluence of the Drôme and Rhône rivers. The mountains are not far away and a first panoramic view will whet your appetite for the days ahead!

You will start your gravel exploration of the Ardèche in the Rhône valley. After crossing the Rhône, you will enter the Eyrieux valley, where the Dolce Via long-distance cycle route will be your guide for today's stage. At 90 kilometres, it is considered the wildest and most beautiful ‘Voie Verte’ in France.

On this varied route you will see impressive bridges, viaducts, tunnels and galleries overhanging gorges – all remnants of the old railway line you are following. The crunch of fine gravel under your tyres will serenade you as the river meanders gently between granite cliffs.

The vegetation is equally varied, alternating between fruit orchards and wilder stretches of lush nature. The higher you go, the more chestnut trees you will see - a source of flour and staple food in the Ardèche for many generations.

Today you will head for the Ardèche plateau and enjoy wide vistas of this landscape from the many beautiful roads and tracks. On your gravel bike, you will discover a less well-known, more alpine side of the Ardèche: rugged landscapes and jagged mountain peaks, some of which are reminiscent of the great peaks of the Central Massif. The only difference is that the slopes here are covered with yellow flowering gorse.

As you climb above the picturesque village of Saint Clément, you slowly but surely gain elevation and the views become more and more impressive. Soon you will notice the first ‘Sucs’ rising from the plateau; evidence of the intense volcanic activity that shaped the landscape of the Ardèche some ten thousand years ago. Viscous lava with a low gas content slowly rose and solidified, forming grey domes such as Mont Gerbier de Jonc.

You will cross the mountain pastures where the subtly aromatic hay is reflected in the fine flavour of Fin gras du Mezenc, a beef that is traditionally processed and even has its own AOC label. Via Sainte Eulalie and the crater of the Vestide du Pal, you will soon reach the eastern foothills of the Ardèche plateau. The Fontolière river will lead you down to the pretty village of Mont­pezat-sous-Bauzon.

The day begins with a climb up a gravel track to the Col de la Gravenne. From here you have a magnificent view to the south and the distant peaks of the Alps and the Massif Central.

The route continues along a truly panoramic road that takes you to the small but picturesque village of Jaujac. In addition to the typical and lively village square and the old market on the hillside, Jaujac is particularly famous for its salt columns exposed by the Lignon river. You can take a dip before starting the climb to the Col de la Croix Millet. At the top, the views are once again breathtaking.

A winding descent takes you to Largentière. The town was once the seat of the Bishopric of Vivier and has a lot to offer in terms of architecture. At the end of the day, you will follow the charming route of the Roubreau stream to your accommodation in the middle of wild nature.

This transitional stage starts in the mountains but ends in the southern Ardèche. Today you take on the gentle slopes of the 1500m high Tanargue and its stunning balcony roads, which make for a really good gravel ride. Once again, the views to the south will make you forget the effort of the climb.

You gradually leave the mountainous Ardèche behind and approach the southern slopes with their Mediterranean vegetation and gentler terrain. Along generally well-maintained trails on the banks of the Baume and Alune rivers, you will soon reach the enchanted Bois de Paiolive forest. You will get to see the landscape of bizarre and spectacular limestone rocks and low vegetation which is so typical of the south.

The gorges of Chassezac are the final highlight of the day before you roll along back roads and gravel tracks to Vallon Pont d'Arc in the heart of the Ardèche Gorge.

The fifth stage of the journey takes you through the many picturesque villages that make up the Ardèche: Labeaume, Balazuc and Vogüé, whose castle you will spot from a distance. Medieval streets, well-kept stone houses in a spectacular setting of limestone cliffs and a crystal-clear river flowing through it all.

Whether the Ardèche, Ligne or Baume, all the rivers here have carved gorges in the ubiquitous limestone and will tempt you to take a dip. At the end of the day, you will reach Vals-les-Bains, a small spa town famous for its carbonated mineral water.

The final day of cycling begins with the climb to the Col de Vals. Gravel tracks and small roads wind through the heart of this mountainous massif until, at a fork in the road, the ruins of the Château de Boulogne rise majestically. The magic of this place is sure to charm you.

Continuing towards the Massif des Coirons, you will gradually gain altitude and the woods will give way to a stark landscape with wide vistas. On the horizon, you will be able to make out the route you have been following for the last few days, before heading towards the Rhône Valley and back to 'civilization'.

Privas, the prefecture of the Ardèche departement, is still in the mountains and marks the last outpost of the Ardèche. A quiet cycle path takes you back to the Rhône and Livron-sur-Drôme.

If you still can't tear yourself away from the rugged beauty of the Ardèche, we would be happy to book you some extra nights. Otherwise, it's time to say goodbye...