# Ardèche and Drôme

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

* 44.7354.5991671 Privas — the capital of Ardèche has many local walks and other recreational activities; it is also noted for fossils.
* 44.93254.8908332 Valence — capital of Drôme colourful markets and gardens, and its welcoming pedestrian streets make it the "door to Provence"
* 44.5554.5980563 Alba-la-Romaine — the 16th-century Château of Alba is listed in the Inventory of Historic Monuments and is open to the public
* 45.244.6708334 Annonay
* 44.6197224.3902785 Aubenas sits at the crossroads of a regional natural park, the Ardèche river canyon, and the start of mountains
* 44.7536115.3702786 Die — a destination for summer camping and for winter sports at the Col du Rousset ski station
* 44.4477784.4172227 Lagorce — a medieval village with a living silkworm museum
* 44.5427784.2933338 Largentière has a 12th- to 15th-century château, and a 13th-century church
* 44.3061114.4333339 Orgnac l'Aven — has a cave that can be explored by tour
* 45.0672224.83277810 Tournon-sur-Rhone — has the oldest suspension bridge in France, and the Château de Tournon has a museum and commanding views over the Rhône
* 44.5191674.32638911 Uzer
* 44.2752785.27444412 Buis-les-Baronnies — a mountain village that provides hiking, climbing, and other outdoor sports opportunities
* 44.4069444.39361113 Vallon Pont d'Arc — the nearby cave of Pont d’Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site decorated by well-preserved prehistoric drawings of human figures and animals

## Other destinations

* 44.3444444.4769441 Gorges de l'Ardèche — 30-km-long canyons along the Ardèche river, cut deeply into the limestone plateau, paradise for canoeists
* 44.9666675.4166672 Vercors — massif of the Prealps at the north end of the Drôme.

## Understand

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
### By plane

The closest major airport is Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS). There are direct TGV high-speed trains from the airport to Valence Ville (downtown station), taking 30 minutes.

### By train

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

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.

## Do

* Climbing: Buis-les-Baronnies.
* Canoeing on the Ardèche and Drôme rivers.

## Eat

* Picodon — a cheese made in Drôme.

## Drink

* Clairette de Die. A natural sparkling white wine made around Die village.

## Go next

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