Activities in Ardèche
The basalt columns of Jaujac
Located in the heart of the Monts d'Ardèche Geopark in the charming village of Jaujac, along the Lignon River, the Jaujac basalt flow is much more than just a natural site: it is a veritable open book on the geological history of the Ardèche, which has earned it recognition as the most beautiful in Europe!
The lava flow from the Jaujac Volcano travelled through the Lignon Valley, almost filling it completely. Over tens of thousands of years, the river re-carved its bed by cutting into the flow, revealing the basalt prisms. The different parts of a flow are clearly visible from the beach or the viewpoint: a real colonnade at the bottom formed by beautiful prisms, an entablature of false prisms in the middle and a false colonnade at the top. This will be explained to you at the viewpoint overlooking the flows.
The best way to discover the Jaujac basalt flow is to come and see it with your own eyes. A walk is a must, and not just any walk: here, nature and geology come together to offer you a unique spectacle. Once you have parked your bikes on one of the racks available in the village, you can take the Orgues hiking trail, which offers exceptional views of the Lignon River and a panorama that will leave you speechless. You can take the Orgues hiking trail, which offers exceptional views of the Lignon River, where the panorama will leave you speechless. Along the way, you can imagine the molten lava making its way through the valleys and the landscape transforming before your eyes.
Things to see along the route 3 villages
Chirols Silk Mill Ecomuseum
Discovering the Ardèche means visiting the Silk Mill Ecomuseum.
Silk milling is an essential and characteristic textile operation that has made the Ardèche famous. This operation takes place after sericulture (silkworm rearing) and spinning, and before weaving. It requires a very specific thread twisting technique, invented by the Chinese, improved by the Italians in the 13th century, and perfected by Vaucanson in the mid-18th century. He came to Vivarais for this purpose, to the Royal Manufactory of Pont d'Ucel. Factories were built, one of which became the moulinage ecomuseum.
15 km from Aubenas, 5 km from Vals les Bains and Neyrac les Bains, nestled in an attractive valley and at the end of a park along the Fontaulière, the eco-museum welcomes you to its 500 square metres of rooms, which were refurbished in 2006. Models, machines, interactive terminals, documentary films, soundscapes and descriptive panels take you on a journey that traces the epic history of silk thread. Here, the memories of workers and employers come together.
While the social aspect is particularly highlighted (child and young women's labour), the architectural and landscape environment will not leave you indifferent. The silk mill eco-museum is unique, and has received support from Europe, the DRAC, the Region, the General Council and the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Nature Park.
See the Les sources or niegles trails.
The intermittent spring of Vals
We thought we had seen it all... until water began to gush from the ground.
In Vals-les-Bains, in 1865, research into mineral waters revealed an extraordinary phenomenon!
Since then, it has never stopped gushing, several times a day, to the great surprise of visitors, who never imagined finding such a thing in the Ardèche.
A "geyser" in the Ardèche.
You're quietly strolling through Vals-les-Bains, in the shade of giant sequoias, in this peaceful park along the Volane... and then, boom: a magnificent jet shoots out of the ground!
The phenomenon is slightly different from Icelandic geysers, which are caused by thermal activity. Here, the gush occurs when the pressure of the gases accumulated underground becomes stronger than the weight of the underground water column.
It all happens under your feet: a reservoir of water, a reservoir of gas... and when the pressure rises, the water gushes out. It's rare, it's beautiful, it's a little crazy.
To be seen on the trails The springs / St Marguerite / The mountain
The dragonfly pond
You'll discover it on your way to the volcano.
This enchanted place is becoming less and less of a secret. It consists of two ponds covering approximately 800 m².
The site, which attracts dragonflies, consists of a marsh fed by the volcano's springs. The marsh is covered with reeds, yellow irises, cattails, watercress, pondweed and other aquatic plants and mown meadows. At least 24 species of dragonflies frequent the Jaujac pond. They can be seen flying on fine days. There are also many toads and frogs. The Maison du Parc des Monts d'Ardèche is located in the heart of a 40-hectare estate at the foot of the last extinct volcano in the Vivarais region: the Coupe de Jaujac.
You can explore the site all year round by following the "la coulée vive" nature trail and strolling through the garden, which has been designed to encourage biodiversity and has been awarded the "LPO refuge" label.
During the school holidays and from mid-June to mid-September, you will be welcomed inside the Maison du Parc, where you will find original exhibitions, an information area and bookshop, and a shop selling local products. The Maison du Parc is an essential stopover before setting off to discover the riches of the Monts d'Ardèche.
To see on the trails 3 villages / Tour du volcan / ST philomene
The King's Ladder in Thueyts
A beautiful walk to discover the Devil's Bridge and the King's Ladder (much more secret) will take you from the centre of the charming village of Thueyts to the banks of the Ardèche, walking under and over the giants' road.
For anyone visiting the Monts d'Ardèche, a stop at the Devil's Bridge is a must and an experience to remember.
This walk - the short version of a longer hike (the Queen's Ladder, which takes you to the other side of the Ardèche) - gives you a good understanding of the site through the various viewpoints along the route, with their evocative names: the Gueule d'Enfer (Hell's Mouth), the Pont du Diable (Devil's Bridge), the Chaussée des Géants (Giants' Road), the Échelle du Roi (King's Ladder)... The local geology has inspired the place names. And it's easy to understand why, given how impressive the landscapes are.
From the Gueule d'Enfer and stadium viewpoints, the view of the bridge and the Ardèche is superb, and you never tire of admiring the extraordinary geometry of the basalt columns that tower above you for much of the walk. As for the king's staircase itself, what a labour it must have been to carve a basalt staircase out of the lava flow!
Redwood Spa
Take your electric bike to the thermal baths and enjoy a moment of relaxation in the thermal waters. Hot baths, outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, herbal tea room, geyser, counter-current, massage jets and various stages. A relaxing hydrotherapy course. Don't forget your towel...
spa sequoia redwood
The Séquoia Redwood thermal spa is a 1,500 square metre haven of relaxation nestled on the upper floor of the thermal baths.
Its architecture and exceptional natural setting have everything to seduce you.
Enter the plant-filled world of the Sequoia Redwood Spa, an elegant place that reflects the beauty of nature.
Come and enjoy our massages, body treatments and the unique expertise of our spa practitioners, as well as the benefits of our thermal waters.
See the Springs / Thermal Baths itineraries.