The lost world of the Ardèche

Most travellers from Britain pass this corner of the south of France by – that’s a mistake

Pont d'Arc, Ardèche © iStockphotos
The Ardèche: a primeval land of fossils, caves and steep-cut gorges
(Image credit: iStockphotos)

Ask any pub-quiz champion which is the longest river in France and they will tell you it is the mighty Loire. But they may be stumped if asked to tell you where it starts. The answer is deep down in the Ardèche. The département in the south of France is off the radar for most Brits, who mostly fly over on their way to the Med or hang a left to go up into the Alps.

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