Ardeche region

Can anyone advise the best area to stay in the Ardeche? We%26#39;ll only be there for a couple of days in July, on our way up to Bourgoune, but I see it%26#39;s divided into several regions. Also any advice about B %26amp;B%26#39;s would be very welcome!

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It really depends on what you are looking for there. For hiking and cannyoning, you should go to south Ardèche (gorges de l%26#39;ardèche). If you like a journey in an old steam train, then go to north Ardèche (Tournon / Lamastre) :

ardeche-train.com/fr/voyage-train-ardeche.php

Have a look on this website to check what is to do and to see :

http://www.ardeche-guide.com/index_en.asp

The Ardèche is fine but personnaly I prefer the east side of the Rhône, the Drôme, as you%26#39;ll find olive trees landscapes, beautiful villages and châteaux.

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The Aven d%26#39;Orgnac and the area round Vallon Pont d%26#39;Arc are worth visiting. Travelling on north, you could call in on le Puy en Velay, which has a really distinctive image: ot-lepuyenvelay.fr/versionanglaise/…j1.html

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The Pont d%26#39;Arc is certainly a lovely area. However, in July there can be extremely long queues of traffic as you get to within a few miles of it, and it will be awfully crowded when you get there.

I would certainly advise a visit to the Drome,; we love Drome Provencal. The area around Dieulefit has some lovely villages, and Dieulefit itself is a lovely old pottery town, with a great Saturday market.

Many places will be crowded in July, but it never seems nearly as bad there. however, as for most markets, early arrival pays dividends in finding parking places!

Jo

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The Aven d%26#39; Orgnac and the Ardeche corniche drive are not to be missed, traffic or no. Then in the Drome Provencale, spend a few hours in the charming town of Montelimar, then head east to visit some of the hilltowns along the road to Dieulefit. The best is le Poet-Laval, our favorite place in the world. The hotel/restaurant Les Hospitaliers is wonderful, but there are B%26amp;Bs around Dieulefit.

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Thanks everyone - that%26#39;s fantastic feedback and the weblinks very helpful. The Drome area definitely seems to be worth visiting.

We%26#39;ll be coming from the Verdon area of Provence - I have to get my head around the different departments as some of the guide books and websites aren%26#39;t so clear about these. Thanks again.

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