There are deeply rural areas where one never gets bored, because the cultural life is rich, because the range of leisure activities is abundant, because the community life is extraordinary, because all year round there are women and men deeply involved in local life.
a calendar that vibrates all year round
Whether you come in summer, autumn or even winter, we usually say that in the land of Aubenas-Vals there is always something happeningFestivals, exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, theatre, shows... Even though we are a rural area, culture never stops here, thanks in part to an exceptional network of associations.
Vals Theater, Aubenas Castle, Antraigues Square, performance halls, media libraries, community centers: the meetings are varied and livelyThere you can discover artists from here and elsewhere, world music, committed theatre, auteur cinema... The atmosphere is warm, the rooms on a human scale. You don't just come to see a show, you share a moment.
A wide range of leisure activities
It's hard to be bored when nature becomes a huge playground. Hiking, mountain biking, canyoning, climbing, river swimming, horseback riding, cycling, treetop adventures... you are here in a kind of outdoor paradise, as they say in good French. It must be said that the southern Ardèche was a pioneering place in the culture of outdoor activities? You can feel it when you talk to the locals: it is not uncommon for the farmer in the hamlet to also be a canoeing instructor or for the village teacher to also be a caving pro.
In this whole range of leisure activities, everyone will find their moment of happiness: whether you like thrills to the point of attempting an 8-meter jump into the Besorgues, or you prefer the calm of a photo outing with Simon Bugnon to go and meet the marvelous yellow-bellied toad... in any case you will make beautiful memories.
events worth the trip
A half-marathon that takes you from Aubenas to Antraigues via the summit of a volcano. A festival that immerses you in the cinemas of Europe for 10 days. A weekend in the heart of Jean Ferrat's village to celebrate French song and friendship. Village festivals that attract thousands of visitors to celebrate the sacred fruit of the Ardèche: the chestnut. A festival that successfully brings great classical musicians to unusual and isolated locations in the Secret Ardèche.
Whether The Ardèche Run, the Meetings of European Cinemas, the Ferrat Festival, the Castagnades, the Katok Festival… and others unmissable events , it’s also a good way to dive into the Secret Ardèche.
