Ardèche press file www.ardeche-guide.com © M. Dupont © M. The Ardèche can be summed up in three words: passion, beauty and talent. Prehistoric man came to the region as long as 36,000 years ago and laid the first foundations of art on the walls of the Chauvet-Pont d’Arc Cave, now classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It took passion and genius to tame the wild and awe-inspiring landscapes of Ardèche, such as the Ardèche Gorges, Mont Gerbier de Jonc, and the mountain and valley of Eyrieux. These little corners of paradise are also part of a precious and fragile local heritage that all who live and work here are more determined than ever to respect and conserve. Words are not enough to describe Ardèche, you have to experience it, by canoe or kayak, via ferrata or bike, by exploring some of the charming medieval villages perched on the moun- tainsides or by taking a detour to some of the fortresses that guard over the Rhône Valley and its prestigious wines. 2 CONTENT General information 4/5 Cultural heritage 26 What’s new 6 Top 5 tourist sites 27 Amazing accommodation 28 Follow the line of the watershed 7 UNESCO World Heritage 10 Camping, the ‘in’ thing 30 Wine tourism 12 Gastronomy 32 Follow the Craftsmen’s Trail 13 ‘Toqués d’Ardèche’ 33 ‘Maison du Gerbier’ 14 The wine trilogy 34 Places to visit 15 AOP Châtaigne d’Ardèche 38 Amazing water activities 16 Michelin starred chefs 40 Ardèche by bike 17 Bistrots de Pays 43 Cultural heritage & sites 22 Ardèche main events 44 Nature sites 23 Thrilling experiences 24 The secret world of caves 25 Crédit photo couverture : D. Pourcher 3 GENERAL INFORMATION Belgium Location Germany Ardèche is located where Provence begins, in the south-east of France, along the river Rhône, a natural border stretching for 135km, between Lyon and Avignon. Its climate and vegetation are influenced by the Mediterranean Sea in the south of Italy the county and by the Massif Central in the mountainous area in the western part. Spain Tourist nights In 2016, 16.1 million tourist nights between 1st April and 31st August. Inhabitants : 327,000 with a density of 58 inhabitants/ km2 Size : 5 529km2, among them 172,000 hectares of forests (31% of the county). More information : http://pro.ardeche-guide.com Highest mountain : (chapter ‘Je consulte les chiffres’) - in French. le Mont-Mézenc, 1,754 m. Follow online Ardèche all year long “A la conquête de l’Ardèche“ @ArdecheGuide @ardeche_tourisme 339 parishes www.ardeche-guide.com www.ardeche-tv.fr 4 Photo library In order to illustrate your articles on Ardèche, photos are available upon request at : [email protected] [email protected] How to get to Ardèche? Press documents Distances to Privas : • Ardèche press file Paris : 600 km - 373 miles • Press newsletters Lyon : 140 km - 87 miles • News Marseille : 210 km - 130 miles Available on By train: http://presse.ardeche-guide.com/ Eurostar / TGV and Thalys Valence ville / Valence TVG stations Montélimar station Avignon station Airports: Your press contact : Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Nîmes, Avignon, Grenoble, Lucile CLARA Marseille, Montpellier. Tel.: +33 (0)4 75 64 01 04 [email protected] 5 NEWS © M. Dupont © M. 6 FOLLOW THE LINE OF THE WATERSHED! July 7 2017 marks the inauguration of a unique brates contrasts in climate, geographical reliefs, and artistic project supported by the Monts d’Ardèche cultures, and we wanted to make it tangible, so I in- Regional Nature Park. Running along the high ridge vited artists, designers and landscapers to bring the that divides water flowing to the Atlantic and the Ardèche watershed to life. We chose a number of Mediterranean, The Watershed will celebrate the geological and heritage sites, and at each location, history, heritage and geography of this natural phe- artists were asked to create a work of art unique to nomenon. that place. ‘The idea came to me whilst looking at this symbolic This outdoor art gallery will include sculptures in and imaginary line on a map,’ explains artistic direc- iron filigree, a landscaped trail, and a GPS guide to tor David Moinard who worked for several years on the countryside, created in conjunction with local the Estuaire project in Nantes. ‘Our “red line” cele- cultural sites and tourist attractions. DAVID MOINARD © D. Moinard © D. 7 THE SITES AND THE ARTISTS Notre Dame des Neiges With its masts sunk into the ground amidst the ‘waves’ of countryside, the replica of Christopher Columbus’ ship Santa Maria points its prow towards the Atlantic and America, guided by the waters which flow to the west. Well known for his powerful works, Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping has drawn his inspiration from the history of the world, a world where environment is a key issue and where Man is torn between his creative powers and destructive urges. © F.A - ADT 07 - ADT © F.A Abbaye de Mazan This ruined Cistercian abbey has a new lease of life thanks to painter Felice Varini who highlights the architectural ele- ments of a building against a backdrop of the countryside, creating geometric forms. Inspired by the changing light of the Ardèche mountains, Varini is working in gold leaf here at Mazan, and wherever you look, circles will appear, as though resting on the church roof. © N. Lelièvre © N. Chartreuse de Bonnefoy This ruined abbey surrounded by countryside has become a moving work of art thanks to Stéphane Thidet who has installed giant mirrors in empty windows and doors. Gently angled towards the sky or the soil, they reflect the landscape and bring the observer into the heart of it – a mix of mystery and reality, illusion and reflection. © N. Lelièvre © N. Borne German artist Gloria Friedmann is known for her minimalist works that invite the onlooker to step inside. © A.Renaud-Goud Now she is tracing the outline of a lighthouse, a building linked to the Tour de Borne nature observation tower. At the top a 360° panorama in blue will highlight the unique position of Gerbier de Jonc this lighthouse on the watershed that links the Atlantic Ocean Film-maker Olivier Leroi has recorded the Loire from a heli- with the Mediterranean Sea. copter and the resulting film will be shown on a loop at the new discovery centre at the river’s source on the slopes of Gerbier de Jonc. Olivier is also installing a plaque at each one of the mountain springs to represent the fauna and flora that are typical of that spot. Photographers will also be taken every 50 km from the source to the estuary, a portrait of the Loire in 22 pictures. 8 Landscape artist Gilles Clément Artist responsible for the Quai Branly museum gardens in Paris, Gilles Clément was immediately inspired by the concept of The Watershed. ‘All the artists involved have the chance to change people’s per- ceptions and to personally enhance the visibility of a landscape that isn’t always evident at first sight,’ he says. Line of Vision is Clément’s own interpretation of the geographical watershed, 18 viewpoints along a 50km route, each one with a post topped with a coloured marker that points towards a lands- cape feature crossed by the watershed line. And whilst walking on Mont Gerbier de Jonc he realised that the mountain acted as a water tower by capturing humidity from the air and directing it towards the Atlantic or Mediterranean. He is therefore building a symbolic water tower close to the mountain. © G. Clément © G. Designer Eric Benqué Based in Paris but with a house in Ardèche, designer Eric Benqué is delighted to be involved with The Watershed, a project that gi- ves this rural department a significant place in the world. ‘Water is a natural element that circulates – there’s a notion of exchange here.’ This idea of exchange has inspired the hard landscaping that Ben- qué has created along the trail. There are no horizontal surfaces, only slopes to allow the water to run off, as well as spaces where light can get through and plants flourish. He has avoided foundations and chemical treatments, opting for local chestnut wood and creating outdoor furniture that blends with a dozen sites along the GR7. An area of duckboard, for instance, and a bench measuring 3m by 1m where several people can sit together; a platform for relaxing or picnicking at Gerbier de Jonc and a shelter like an agricultural tunnel at Mont Mézenc. Parc naturel regional des Monts d’Ardèche - Jaujac Tel.: +33 (0)4 75 36 38 60 www.parc-monts-ardeche.fr/actions-du-parc-en-faveur- du-territoire/le-partage-des-eaux.html © B.M - ADT 07 - ADT © B.M 07 © E.B - ADT 9 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE © DRAC The Pont d’Arc Decorated Cave known as Grotte Chauvet, awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO : Jewel of humanity The Pont d’Arc Decorated Cave – the ‘Grotte Chauvet’ – and through time. In a massive and ground-breaking project, skilled the replica Cavern artists painstakingly copied the cave paintings to create an exact Dating back 36,000 years, the extraordinary cave paintings of the copy of the original, perfect in every detail, down to the humidity, Pont d’Arc Decorated Cave – the Grotte Chauvet – are amongst smell and temperature. the brightest jewels of humanity. This immense natural cathedral, Amazement and emotion guaranteed with every visit! untouched for millennia, was discovered on December 18 1994 in 1 million visitors will be reached in February 2017! Ardèche at Vallon Pont d’Arc by three amateur cavers, Jean-Marie Chauvet, Eliette Brunel and Christian Hilaire.