The most beautiful villages of the Ardèche to visit around Vallon-Pont-d'Arc

The Ardèche isn't just its gorges and its canoeing: all around Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, perched, medieval villages — some ranked among the most beautiful in France — are only a few minutes' drive away. Here is our pick of the most beautiful villages of the Ardèche, with the distances from Vallon and our tips for combining them with a descent.

The most beautiful villages of the Ardèche at a glance

BalazucMost Beautiful Villages of France

Clinging to a cliff above the Ardèche, Balazuc is probably the most photogenic of them all. Its medieval lanes, its Saracen tower and its Romanesque church can be explored in a short hour's stroll. Below, a pebble beach makes a good swimming break. 18 km from Vallon (about 23 minutes), it's the essential stop.

VogüéMost Beautiful Villages of France

Set against the cliff, Vogüé lines up its vaulted houses at the foot of the château of the Marquis de Vogüé (17th century). You wander under the arcades, visit the château and its terraced gardens, then head down to the river and its beach. 24 km from Vallon (about 28 minutes), it's one of the most elegant villages in the Ardèche.

LabeaumeVillage of character

On the banks of the Beaume, Labeaume charms with its calade lanes, its vaulted passages and its hanging gardens carved into the rock. A stone ford crosses the river at the foot of the village. 14 km from Vallon (about 20 minutes), between Ruoms and the gorges, it's a quiet, natural stop.

Ruoms

A former fortified town, Ruoms still has a medieval wall punctuated by seven round towers and a Romanesque church. Around it, the Ruoms gorges cut the river between high limestone cliffs. 9 km from Vallon (barely 12 minutes), it's the closest village, and a handy town for shops and its weekly market.

Pradons

A small medieval village on the banks of the Ardèche, Pradons has kept its fortified houses and its watchtower. Less well known than its neighbours, it can be visited in a few minutes and rounds out a Ruoms – Balazuc loop nicely. 12 km from Vallon (about 15 minutes).

AiguèzeMost Beautiful Villages of France

At the exit of the gorges, facing Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche, Aiguèze keeps watch from its rocky spur. This fortified medieval village offers a striking panorama over the river from its ramparts, flower-lined lanes and a shaded square. Technically in the Gard, it remains inseparable from the gorges. 30 km from Vallon (about 40 minutes), it's best enjoyed after a descent down to Saint-Martin.

Saint-Montan

Nestled in a valley near the Rhône, Saint-Montan is a superbly restored medieval village, dominated by the ruins of its castle. Its paved lanes, stone houses and Romanesque chapels make it a maze full of charm. 30 km from Vallon (about 37 minutes), towards Bourg-Saint-Andéol.

Antraigues-sur-Volane

Perched on a basalt outcrop, in the mountainous Ardèche, Antraigues-sur-Volane won over the singer Jean Ferrat, who lived there. Its plane-tree-shaded square, its lanes and its artists'-village feel are worth the detour. 48 km from Vallon (about 1 hour), it's a fine escape towards the green Ardèche.

Thines

At the very end of a mountain road, Thines is one of the most isolated and most moving villages in the Ardèche. Its 12th-century Romanesque church, in polychrome stone, overlooks a schist hamlet clinging to the slope. 42 km from Vallon (about 56 minutes), in the Ardèche Cévennes, it's an adventure in its own right.

How to visit these villages while combining a canoe trip?

Several of these villages pair perfectly with a day on the water:

• Balazuc and Vogüé line the Ardèche: you stop off before or after the descent.
• Aiguèze overlooks the exit of the gorges, right next to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche, the finishing point of the great descents.
• Ruoms, Pradons and Labeaume are on the way to the departure base.

The ideal: a descent in the morning, a village and a lunch on a terrace in the afternoon. Find all our routes on the our canoe trips page, and plan the rest of your stay with our guide to what to do in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.

Practical information

• A car is recommended: the villages are spread out. The closest (Ruoms, Pradons, Labeaume, Balazuc, Vogüé) form a lovely day loop.
• When to go: May, June and September to avoid the crowds; early morning in July and August.
• Good shoes: the lanes are paved and often steep.
• Antraigues, Saint-Montan and Thines are further away: plan a dedicated day out.

Frequently asked questions