Ardèche

The Ardèche is a 125-kilometre long river in south-central France, a right-bank tributary of the River Rhône. Its source is in the Massif Central, near the village of Astet. It flows into the Rhône near Pont-Saint-Esprit, north-west of Orange. The river gives its name to the French department of Ardèche.

The valley of the Ardèche is very scenic, in particular a 30-kilometre section known as the Ardèche Gorges. The walls of the river here are limestone cliffs up to 300 metres high. A kayak and camping trip down the gorge is not technically difficult and is very popular in the summer. The most famous feature is a natural 60-metre stone arch spanning the river known as the Pont d'Arc.