LEISURE AND HERITAGE
IN THE ARDÈCHE
Typical villages
Often perched on top of a hill or hanging on
to the side of a mountain, the villages of the Ardèche and their
magical surroundings bake in the sun. They have a medieval spirit and
cultivate their traditions. Numerous villages have obtained or are in
the running for the label “Villages de caractère” –
Villages of character. This label aims at protecting and promoting the
most picturesque villages of the Ardèche. For tourists the label
warrants that they will discover a unique and well kept heritage.
In order to obtain the label “Village de charactère”,
the villages of the Ardèche must fulfil three criteria:
- the quality of the site;
- the quality of the village;
- the welcoming, the social and economical life of the village.
There are also a large number of castles and tourist sites to visit: archaeological sites, museums, historical sites, sites of craftsmanship and know-how, etc.