Vallon Pont d'Arc

Visit Vallon Pont d'Arc, Rhone-Alpes

Vallon Pont d'Arc is in the Ardeche department of the Rhone-Alpes, at the western end of the Gorges de l'Ardeche. A quiet tranquil place in winter, the village leaps to life in summer when hordes of visitors wishing to explore the Gorges de l'Ardeche descend on Vallon Pont d'Arc.

Explore Vallon Pont d'Arc

The town itself is a pleasant enough place to explore, with streets lined with old buildings, cafes...and tourist type shops. The Chastelas part of the town - the old town - is the most interesting from a historical point of view. See also the small belvedere behind the church of Saint-Saturnin.

Another monument of interest in the town is the Town Hall, a castle built in the 17th century and inside which you can see several Aubusson tapestries.

But in truth it is as a resort town that Vallon Pont d'Arc receives the most attention - the streets are bustling with cafes, bars and people, and it has a happy, 'people on holiday and out to enjoy themselves', atmosphere. It almost feels like a seaside resort, except the sea is nowhere to be found!

Note: I found myself in the town by accident, having mixed up a hotel booking elsewhere and having nowhere else to stay. I'm glad I did, and if you are in the region and looking for a lively town with a wide choice of restaurants where you can eat outside, I am happy to recommend it.

To visit close to Vallon Pont d'Arc

Of course, the main attraction in the vicinity are the Gorges de l'Ardeche and the Pont d'Arc itself.

If you can tear yourself away from the gorges for a while, it was near Vallon Pont d'Arc that one of the very oldest painted caves in the world was discovered. It was 32,000 years ago that the Grotte Chauvet was inhabited and decorated with fantastic cave paintings. The caves were discovered in 1994. Unfortunately they can not be opened to the public (to avoid the same damage that took place to the Lascaux caves) but a copy and a museum dedicated to the caves can be visited.

Suggested places to visit near Vallon Pont d'Arc, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Joyeuse 15km; Vogue 16km; Aigueze 17km; Saint-Montan 19km; Banne 19km; Naves 21km; Ailhon 22km; Alba-la-Romaine 23km; Aubenas 24km; Viviers 25km; La Roque-sur-Ceze 26km; Jaujac 28km; Meyras 32km; Thueyts 33km; Antraigues-sur-Volane 35km; Privas 40km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Vallon Pont d'Arc

Vallon Pont d'Arc tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Gorges de l'Ardeche - grand site of france (1km) : Aven d'Orgnac - grand site of france (11km) : Bois de Païolive - site of natural beauty (16km) : Gorges du Gardon - grand site of france (18km) : Grotte de la Cocaliere - site of natural beauty (23km) : Vals-les-Bains - recommended detour (29km) : Eglise de Saint Michel (La Garde-Adhemar) - religious monument (29km) : Jardin des herbes - remarkable garden (29km) :

French version: see Vallon Pont d'Arc (Francais)