Village Huttopia Sud Ardèche

Cave in to some touristy peer pressure and make the caverns of the Ardèche stop one of your hols. The region is dotted with spectacular spots, from the 30,000-year-old cave paintings of Chauvet Cave (see them in replica at Caverne du Pont d’Arc, 15 minutes’ drive from base) to the Aven d’Orgnac where people first lived 350,000 years ago. Grotte de la Salamandre, Grotte de la Cocalière and Aven Marzal (with dino park and underground museum) are all within half an hour of the site. Heading back above ground, the Gorges de l’Ardèche are an absolute must – if hiking, biking and climbing don’t float your boat, seeing the gorge from the water should. Head to Vallon-Pont-d’Arc to hire a canoe for the 26-kilometre journey downriver to Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, getting a splendid view of the UNESCO Pont d’Arc as you pass under it enroute. Spend a little more time out in nature with treks to Monts d’Ardèche Natural Regional Park or Cévennes National Park about 45 minutes away, or visit Château des Roure (and its silk museum) or the Muséum de l’Ardèche for a bit of history and some shelter from the elements.