Gorges of Ardeche

the throats of the Ardèche are a tourist site ardéchois. True canyon of about thirty kilometers dug in the calcareous plate between the Bridge Arc (Vallon-Pont-d'Arc) and Saint-Martin-in Ardèche, one can follow the course of the river in the car on the northern side by a panoramic road through the scrubland overhanging the throats and their cliffs. With their half, they form a natural border between the departments of the Ardèche and the Gard. Many view-points whose names are related to the various sites were arranged on the route, since the Greenhouse of Tiourre embracing the sight on the Cevennes towards Alès at the entry of the Throats until Ranc Pointu before the panorama on Aiguèze, Saint-Martin-in Ardèche and, with far, the plain of the the Rhone and the Mont Ventoux…

Presentation

The river formed several meanders, more or less opened, in the plate (block Urgonien of approximately eight hundred meters thickness: " plate of Gras" with north, " Wood of Ronze" in the south). And more surprising is that of the Bridge of Arc. Single phenomenon, the river recut its meander here by boring the rock and by leaving a limestone arch 60 height meters under which the river continues to run out.

The Throats of Ardeche and their plates attract each year of many avid visitors of discovery, escape, and activities of full nature. It is about one of the most visited sites Département of Ardeche and surroundings. Very many activities are possible: the Speleology, the Climbing, descent of the throats in Canoe, Kayak or the boat, the Excursion, the jump in rubber band,…

Geology

Ardeche, in its Throats, goes down from 80 to 45 meters of the sea level. It dug them in a solid mass with the average altitude of 300 m, with the Mediterranean vegetation: it is the first large Garrigue. The species are adapted to a permeable soil which does not preserve water surface, but sees it circulating in the many galleries and underground rivers (the known network of the Caves of Saint-Marcel exceeds the 50 km of conduits).

Many caves can beings visited for their geological interest (Marzal Swallow-hole, Aven of Orgnac, Grotte of the Madeleine, Grottes of Saint-Marcel,…), others attest very old presence of the Man in this area. Number of them are decorated caves (often closed with the public); most famous is from now on the Grotte Chauvet - which will never be visited: an exposure presents it to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and a " Space restitution" , way Lascaux II, is in forecast. This old human presence is attested pareillement by the presence of Dolmen S (800 in all Low-Ardeche, one of the principal megalithic zones of France).

Small history

Before 1960, no road traversed the Gorges of Ardeche: about thirty kilometers separating the hamlet from Chames, close to the Bridge of Arc, and the hamlet of Sauze, with Saint-Martin-in Ardèche was not - and is not - pratiquable only with foot for the hikers. They were it in the boat punt (or bèches ) by the inhabitants installed at their ends or on the plates around. They exploited essentially wood, the charcoal carried out on the plate. The site, isolated and difficult of access, had allowed the 12th century the establishment of a Maladrerie templière intended to accommodate the victims of the Peste to the return of crusade. Vestiges of this building are still visible today with the Circus of the Madeleine.

But the reputation of the Gorges of Ardeche is due especially to its river. Relatively calm for all the period of spring and the summer, strewn with some rapids worthy of interest, it is an affectionate place of leisures of the amateurs of canoe and kayak like hikers. The descent is done in the course of the day, accompanied or not by a monitor, between Vallon-Pont-d'Arc or Chames and Sauze with Saint-Martin-in Ardèche. It can be done in two days with a night in bivouacs (with Gaud and Gournier - the wild camp-site is interdict in the Throats). For the descents in the canoe-kayak of hiring, asresser with the people receiving benefits with Vallon or Saint Martin's day d' Ardèche.

In period of raw (mainly at the time of certain rains " cévenoles" of autumn), the descent is obviously prohibited by order of the prefect. Less terrifying that they were not it before the regulation of the Ardèche and its affluents like the Chassezac, the risings do not remain less spectacular about it of impetuosity: as much " admirer" then with impunity the spectacle since the Tourist Road…

Natural reserve

Gorges of Ardeche, the " Bridge of Arc" and solid mass close to the " Tooth of Rez" (the " tooth of scie" dominating the plate of Fat to 700 m of altitude - this " rez" , it is reïssa , the saw in occitan) are respectively classified in Natural reserve, Site Classified and Stopped Biotope.

The Natural reserve of the Gorges of Ardeche, which covers 1.575 hectares, is created by the decree n°80-27 of January 14th 1980 published with the Official journal of January 18th, 1980. Its management is entrusted to the SIGARN (Trade union of management of the Gorges of Ardeche) become SGGA (Trade union of Management of the Gorges of Ardeche). It aims to the protection of the natural heritage (fauna, flora, mineral, landscape richnesses). The head office of the SGGA is installed in Saint-Remèze.

Common crossings

The gorges of Ardeche extend on the territory from 7 communes from Ardeche (Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, Salavas, Labastide-with-Virac, Saint-Remèze, Bidon, Saint-Marcel-in Ardèche and Saint-Martin-in Ardèche) and 2 communes from Gard (Garn on a few meters with Gournier and, to the fine southern part, Aiguèze)

External bonds

Site of the Trade union of Management of the Gorges of Ardeche
Tourist office of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
Tourist office of St-Martin-in Ardèche
Tourist office of St Remèze

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