The Ardèche, with its remarkable natural spectacles both above and below ground, offers a striking contrast to the bustle and industry of its neighbor, the Rhône Valley. A sparsely populated limestone plateau covered with forests, it has been shaped by the action of water and offers motorcyclists one of the most beautiful gorges in France, along with a large number of impressive caves.
A breathtaking motorcycle journey—high above and deep below—in the Ardèche and the Rhône Valley.
The most beautiful panoramas of the Ardèche Gorges by motorcycle
Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, gateway to the gorges
The main tourist hub of the Ardèche Gorges, this town offers a wide range of hotels, campsites, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, and canoe rentals. For most visitors, Vallon-Pont-d’Arc is the starting point for crossing the gorges, either by canoe or by road.
By wandering away from the crowds, the traveling motorcyclist will discover charming old squares and streets reminiscent of the region’s medieval villages. The town hall, built in the Louis XIII style, displays a fine collection of Aubusson tapestries.
But the most fascinating sight of all is the Pont d’Arc itself—an immense natural stone arch spanning the river at the entrance to the gorges.
Riding through the Ardèche Gorges by motorcycle
Over a stretch of 30 km between Vallon-Pont-d’Arc and Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, the Ardèche cuts through one of the most spectacular landscapes of southern France, much of it protected as a nature reserve. Steep limestone cliffs—sometimes rising up to 300 meters—tower above the river, which from autumn to early spring rushes along in swirling white water.
A road runs along the north bank, but the best way to experience the gorges is often from the river itself, especially in spring. In May and June, when conditions are favorable, thousands of visitors make the journey by canoe, usually in a single day. Those who prefer a more relaxed pace can stop at the riverside campsites.
The Belvédère de la Madeleine offers one of the finest viewpoints over the towering cliffs of the spectacular Ardèche Gorges.
The high Corniche motorcycle road from Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche to Vallon-Pont-d’Arc.
The D290, opened only in 1960, runs alongside the Ardèche Gorges and follows the river’s curves as closely as possible, often high above the cliffs. Numerous viewpoints have been laid out along the route, but the most spectacular section is the Haute Corniche, where almost every bend reveals a stunning view of the river far below.
From the Belvédère de la Madeleine and the Belvédère de la Cathédrale, the panoramas are particularly impressive.
Caves to visit during your motorcycle trip in the Ardèche Gorges
Chauvet Cave
Discovered in 1994 near Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, this unique set of Upper Paleolithic cave paintings was named after its discoverer.
Closed to the public in order to prevent the kind of damage suffered at sites such as Lascaux, it was decided to build a full-scale replica of the cave and its artworks. Opened in 2014, this replica has been a huge success with visitors.
The Aven d’Orgnac
It is the largest cave in Ardèche open to the public, though it represents only a small part—despite its size—of a vast system that is still not fully explored. This vertical-shaft cave (aven) had been known for many years, but it was not until 1935 that the speleologist Robert de Joly first descended into it.
The Aven consists of several chambers, one of which stretches for 250 meters and features magnificent stalactites and stalagmites with extraordinary shapes and colors, some reaching 25 meters in height. These formations grow at a rate of about one centimeter per century.
Aven de Narzal
This chasm, accessed by a staircase descending from the vault, is not as large as Orgnac but is just as beautiful. Carefully placed lighting highlights the shapes and colors and makes the crystal formations sparkle. At the surface, there is a museum dedicated to caves.
The Madeleine Cave
Discovered in 1887, this cave overlooking the Ardèche Gorges has only been open to the public since 1969, shortly after the construction of the panoramic road. Its chambers contain beautiful, richly decorated rock formations—some flowing like water or resembling draperies, others shaped like flowers or coral.
Remains of animals from the Ice Age have also been found in the cave, including reindeer, deer, and bears.
Saint-Marcel Cave
These caves are located near Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, at the southern end of the gorges. Discovered in 1835, they were only recently opened to the public. Access was initially reserved for specialists, who explored a network extending over more than 20 km. Some vast chambers feature natural vaults and extraordinary formations—small rounded mineral masses embedded in the limestone.
The traditional Ardèche dwelling: the mas
The mas is the region’s typical farmhouse. Relatively low despite having an upper floor, it features stone walls beneath a gently sloping roof covered with Roman tiles. Windows are small to keep interiors cool in summer, yet large enough to let in natural light.
The heart of the house is the kitchen, traditionally centered around the fireplace, sink, and oven, with simple furnishings. Bedrooms—and sometimes a tiled living room—are located upstairs. Outbuildings grouped around a courtyard include a cellar, a pantry, and sometimes a silkworm house (magnanerie), a legacy of the silk-producing era.
Many mas have now been converted into guesthouses, welcoming visitors to the Ardèche.
Our partner Mototrip offers dozens of motorcycle route suggestions for the Ardèche region, available free of charge, to help you discover this magnificent area.
The official website of the Vallon-Pont-d’Arc and Ardèche Gorges Tourist Office provides all the practical information you need to plan a successful motorcycle weekend in Ardèche. For a broader regional scope, visit the website of the Ardèche Tourism Development Agency.