GORGES D'ARDECHE and ACTIVITIES:
Situated 5 minutes from St Martin d'Ardeche at one end of the Gorges d'Ardeche. Leave the more active of your group there early in the morning and they will be taken by road to the far end of the Gorges for a delightful canoe descent. Meet them around 6 in the evening and together sit at a riverside cafe with a drink and talk about their journey down the river.
There are many 4 and 5 star caves to visit; this is the area of pre-history. Visit the Crocodile Farm set in Tropical gardens under glass - a huge area. Other activities include quad bike riding. They can be hired in the village by the hour, half day or full day. There are good walks around and a tennis court is in the local village - a kilometre away. For horse lovers the nearest neighbour has an excellent equestrian centre. Join an organised hack through the vineyards, forest and orchards - or hire by the hour. Excellent fishing is available - trout and carp - in the Ardeche.
SIGHTSEEING and for NATURE LOVERS:
There is more than enough to do and visit to fill many holidays. This includes Avignon with its Bridge and Papal Palace, Orange with its Roman buildings including the Amphitheatre - still used today for Opera and cultural evenings. Nimes and Arles, both with Roman Coliseums. Montelimar - home of Nougat. Uzes, the first Duchy of France, is a beautiful city with an impressive hilltop oppidum. The famous Roman Aquaduct at Pont du Gard. Vaison la Romain and its nearby Sunday Antique Street Market. Baux - well worth visiting. Many medieval hilltop villages including nearby Aiguez. For nature lovers there is the Cevennes Natural Park, the wild mountain region of the Ardeche or nearby a walk through the Valbonne Forest or along the bottom of the Gorges d'Ardeche. For wine lovers this is the area of Cote du Rhone. Visit one of the domains at Chateau Neuf du Pape or elsewhere, and experience the Tavel rose wine, for wine tasting. Nearby is Chartreuse de Valbonne, an old monastery.
WINING and DINING:
There are many restaurants ranging from 5 mins to half an hour away offering variation in price, quality, style and menus. At the Mas, you will find a list and description of local restaurants and other places to visit.
The local Saturday market in Pont St. Esprit ,which is 6 miles away, should not be missed. Pont St. Esprit is an old Roman town by the Rhone River. Every day somewhere there is a local market. Gourmet food, the finest fruit and veg and meat can be bought - not only in the markets and shops but from private farms and houses which advertise their produce on the roadside such as asparagus, luscious fat cherrys, peaches, apricots and melons. Look for specialist Mountain goat cheeses sold by the producers in the markets.
There are of course many different wines in the area including Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas and other Cotes du Rhones.
Ski:
Limited skiing on Mont Ventoux, but two and a half hours drive from Alpes d@Huez.
Golf:
Several golf courses within easy reach, from Orange (Drome) and Uzes Golf Clubs which are nearest to La Valdaine (Montellimar), Grand Avignon and Chateaublanc in Avignon.
Other Activities:
canoeing, caves, sight-seeing, quad biking, Roman buildings, horse riding etc.
