Spotguide Ardèche

The Ardèche region in south-eastern France boasts one of the most impressive landscapes in France. The eponymous river Ardèche has carved its way through the limestone and formed impressive gorges. One of the landmarks of the region in the south of France is the natural rock bridge, the Pont-d'Arc near Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. The rough and dry limestone formations contrast with green, cultivated plains with lavender fields and sparse forests with first-class single trails, from flowing to wild and pristine.

The south of France has ideal climatic conditions for mountain bikers from spring to fall. The trails through the sparse forests, bushes and across wide plains are often flowing, although they can also include technically challenging sections. Although the area offers an almost endless network of trails for mountain bikers, the Domaine du Frigoulet is the only known provider of bike vacations and is also largely responsible for trail maintenance.

Bucket list

The tour along the Heavy Duttli Trail is a highlight in terms of both riding and scenery.

The circular tour over the Col de la Cize with the popular Nougat Trail.

A tour over the many varied single trails of the Grand Bois.

Delicacies on bike and plate: stay overnight at the Domaine du Frigoulet, where the trails start right by the hotel.

A canoe tour from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc through the Ardèche Gorge.

Visit the Marché de Barjac between July and August.

Best season

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

Mai

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Okt

Nov

Dez

Getting there

Arrival by public transport

The fastest train connection is from Zürich HB with the TGV via Mulhouse, Lyon to Valence. From Valence, continue by bus to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. The journey time is 08:06 hours. The same journey time applies from Freiburg im Breisgau. From there, take the RE7 to Müllheim and continue by bus to Mulhouse, where you take the TGV to Valence. From Stuttgart, take the IRE1 to Karlsruhe, then the ICE 9568 to Strasbourg and then the TGV to Valence

Bicycle transport and reservation: francevelotourisme.com, bahn.de & sbb.ch

Arrival by car

You can reach the South Ardèche by car from Zurich via the A1 highway via Bern and Geneva. Depending on the traffic situation, take the A40 to Lyon and continue on the A7, the Autoroute du Soleil. The slightly faster route leads from Geneva via the A41 via Annecy in the direction of Grenoble and then via the A43, A48 and A49 highways to Valence, where you also turn onto the A7. Stay on this until exit 18-Nyons, where the N7 leads to Pierrelatte. Continue via the Rhone Canal and Rhone to Bourg-Saint-Andéol, from where the D4 takes you via Saint Rèmeze to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. Depending on traffic conditions, the journey takes six to seven hours.

From Freiburg im Breisgau, head to Mulhouse and take the A36 and A6 highways to Lyon. The rest is the same, the journey also takes six to seven hours. From Stuttgart, the journey takes eight to nine hours. The route takes the A8 freeway via Karlsruhe and the A5 towards Mulhouse, where it continues onto the A36.