What to do Around the Mas g'Ardéchois
In town
Saint-Paul-Le-Jeune
Your holiday cottage is located:
In a peaceful rural setting, surrounded by olive trees, fig trees, cypress trees and fruit orchards, just off the D104 road.
You are staying in the small hamlet of Sauvas, only 1.5 km from the village of Saint-Paul-le-Jeune, where you will find:
-
Restaurants, cafés and bars
-
Bakery, pharmacy, doctor, bank and local shops
-
Weekly markets
-
Tennis courts (online booking required)
-
A pétanque court on the village square (visitors are always welcome to join the games!)
-
Friday village market and a smaller fruit & vegetable market every Monday near the church.
-
The Via Ardèche Greenway, a 54 km cycling and walking trail, is also nearby. It connects to more than 25,000 km of European greenways… so technically, you could cycle all the way to Santiago de Compostela… or even Rome. We wish you good luck!
-
There’s always something happening in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune. Almost every weekend brings a new event, festival or celebration. The cafés, restaurants, pizzerias and small local shops are always happy to welcome visitors. On the village square you’ll often find pétanque tournaments, the Friday market, antique fairs and flea markets. You’ll never be short of an excuse to wander into the village… even if it’s simply for a coffee on a sunny terrace.
Villages
Surprise days out
-
You’re staying in Sauvas, just 1.5 km from Saint-Paul-le-Jeune — the Gateway to the Cévennes.
-
Well… we also have stars at night!
-
From the Cévennes National Park to the Monts d’Ardèche Regional Park, you’ll be surrounded by medieval villages, castles… and plenty of wineries.
-
Just remember to appoint a designated driver before wine tasting — the people of Ardèche are famously generous when it comes to samples!
-
Only 10 km away you’ll discover the beautiful towns of Les Vans, Saint-Ambroix and Joyeuse, all renowned for their wonderful markets.
-
Within one or two hours’ drive you can visit:
-
Nîmes
-
Avignon
-
The famous Bamboo Garden (La Bambouseraie)
-
Peaugres Safari Park
-
Lake Villefort
-
Mont Lozère
-
Mont Gerbier de Jonc and the source of the Loire River
-
The Fortress of Portes
-
…and honestly, we’d need to write an entire book to tell you everything there is to discover in our region.
-
Rivers & Outdoor Activities
Create your memories
-
Only 3 km from the cottage you’ll find:
-
The spectacular Cocalière Cave, one of France’s most beautiful caves.
-
Ancient dolmens and the remains of Celtic settlements, hidden among thyme and pine forests.
-
The area offers more than 250 km of hiking trails, starting right from the village, passing old washhouses, traditional hamlets, waterfalls and the mysterious sinkhole known as La Goule, where an entire river disappears underground.
-
Also nearby:
-
Banne, a beautiful medieval hilltop village with castle ruins, breathtaking views and even a bungee jump from the old railway viaduct.
-
Bois de Païolive, only 5 km away, famous for its extraordinary limestone rock formations that seem to become animals, faces and fantastic creatures if you let your imagination wander.
-
(Go ahead… give your pareidolia a workout!)
-
For canoeing, kayaking, canyoning, climbing, horse riding, hiking and mountain biking:
-
Chassezac River (10 km)
-
Ardèche River at Balazuc and Vallon-Pont-d’Arc (30 km)
-
Also nearby:
-
The Ardèche Gorges, with their spectacular scenery, caves, mountains, soaring eagles… and their famous wild goats, which seem to think the middle of the road belongs to them
-
Chauvet Cave 2 (35 km) — an absolute must-see.
-
Pont d’Arc, the famous natural stone arche
-
Aven d'Orgnac cave ( see below)
-
And that’s without mentioning the many medieval castles waiting to be explored.
.jpeg)
-
Our Must-See Places
Here, the journey is part of the holiday
In southern Ardèche, the best memories aren’t only made at your destination.
Quite often, they begin on the road.
As you round a mountain pass, an entire valley suddenly unfolds before you.
A few kilometres later, a medieval village appears on a hilltop.
A winding river follows the cliffs while the Cévennes gradually give way to the Monts d’Ardèche.
Every drive becomes a scenic excursion, and it’s perfectly normal to stop simply to admire the view.
Even after years of living here, these landscapes still amaze us.
They’re exactly what we’d love to share with you.
P.S. Every photograph on this website was taken by us during our own adventures around Ardèche.
The Chassezac River
Without a doubt, this is our favourite place. Far less famous than the Ardèche Gorges at Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, the Chassezac Gorges have kept their wild, peaceful character. Local canoe companies have deliberately limited the number of rental bases to preserve this remarkable natural site and avoid the crowds found elsewhere. Whether you choose to paddle down the river or hike the spectacular trails overlooking the gorges, you’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery in a much quieter atmosphere. It’s somewhere we return to again and again… …and we never grow tired of it. The Chassezac Gorges (Photo: Chassezac Gorges seen from the cliff-top hiking trail.) Without question, our favourite place in Ardèche. Whether by canoe or on foot, these spectacular gorges remain wonderfully peaceful and unspoilt. We visit them regularly… and every single time feels like the first.
Cocalière Cave
Only a few minutes from the cottage. This easy and accessible visit takes you into an extraordinary underground world that’s perfect for families as well as couples and groups of friends. There’s also a large picnic area, a restaurant and a gift shop. We won’t spoil the surprise. Some places are simply better discovered for yourself.
Chauvet Cave 2
We have a confession to make… For years we hesitated to visit. Like many people, we assumed that a replica could never recreate the emotion of the original Chauvet Cave. We were completely wrong. The reconstruction is so astonishingly accurate that within minutes you forget you’re not standing inside the real cave. The visitor centre, exhibitions and activities are equally impressive. We’ve now returned several times and introduced many friends and family members to it. For us, it’s simply one of the highlights of any stay in Ardèche.
Saturday Market in Les Vans
This is one of our favourite markets. You’ll find local farmers, artisans, lively cafés and the charming narrow streets of the old village. But the experience actually begins before you arrive. Coming from Saint-Paul-le-Jeune, the road crosses a mountain pass before revealing an immense natural basin surrounded by hills and picturesque villages. The first time we saw that view, we simply stopped the car… and stood there in silence.
Banne
Before becoming its own village in the early 19th century, Saint-Paul-le-Jeune was part of the territory of Banne. While Banne proudly displays its medieval heritage, Saint-Paul-le-Jeune grew alongside the railway and the local coal mines. Today, the two neighbouring villages complement each other beautifully.Today we’re neighbours—and almost like twin villages. Several beautiful hiking trails start here, including those leading to the ancient dolmens and the Chassezac Gorges. Just a few kilometres from the cottage, Banne is one of the region’s most beautiful medieval villages. Take time to wander through its narrow stone streets before climbing to the castle ruins. From the top you’ll enjoy spectacular views over the Chassezac valley, the Bois de Païolive, the vineyards, the Monts d’Ardèche… and on a clear day, you may even spot the Alps on the horizon. It’s one of the places we most enjoy sharing with our guests. …and don’t miss the enormous centuries-old oak tree that watches over the castle.
3 km
Courry Mountain and Saint Sebastian’s Chapel
You can even walk there directly from the cottage. At the summit, a 360° panoramic view awaits you, along with one of the region’s paragliding launch sites. On a clear day, you can admire the Monts d’Ardèche, Mont Ventoux, and even the Alps in the distance…Fresh air is included at no extra charge.
Only 3 km away, discover the ancient dolmens on a walk that takes you back thousands of years. A little effort… but well worth it.
-
35 km away, the Chauvet 2 Caves (not to be missed), the prehistoric Cavern of Pont d'Arc; Vallon Pont d'Arc and its famous natural bridge.
-
28 km away, Aven d’Orgnac Cave is another spectacular cave that’s definitely worth the visit. The temperature inside remains a cool 12°C (54°F) all year round, so bringing a light jacket is a good idea. Be prepared, though: the guided tour takes you down more than 700 steps. Thankfully, there’s a lift for the journey back up! The cave is absolutely breathtaking… although your knees may not thank you afterwards.
-
Around 40 km away, the Château de Portes stands proudly above the surrounding hills, its distinctive terrace resembling the prow of a ship.
.jpeg)