Ardèche gorges and the Chauvet cave
Perched Balazuc, the replica of the world’s oldest cave paintings, the Pont d’Arc and the belvederes of the gorge road.
- Distance
- 46 km (29 mi)
- Driving
- 0 h 38 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- August 27, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 46 km (29 mi) with 7 stops, from Aubenas to Aven d’Orgnac. About 0 h 38 min of driving in total.
Route description
From Aubenas follow the river south to Balazuc, a village of stone houses clinging above the Ardèche, with a beach below. Continue through Ruoms to Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, the base for canoe trips down the gorge.
Book a slot at Chauvet 2 on the plateau above Vallon, then drive a few kilometres to the Pont d’Arc, a natural arch 54 m high spanning the river. The D290 gorge road starts here and runs along the rim for some 30 km, with a dozen belvederes.
The Belvédère de la Madeleine is the highlight, above a tight bend where canoeists look tiny. After Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, turn back west to the Aven d’Orgnac, a vast cave with a fine museum of prehistory.
In July and August the gorge road and the car parks are packed, so start early or come in May, June or September. The descent by canoe from Vallon takes one or two days, with a bivouac in the gorge that must be booked.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Aubenas
France - 216 km
Balazuc
France - 314 km
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
France - 43 km
Chauvet 2 cave replica
HistoryVallon-Pont-d’Arc, FranceA full-scale replica of the Chauvet cave, whose lions, horses and rhinos were painted some 36,000 years ago. Book a timed entry in summer.
- 51 km
Pont d'Arc
NatureVallon-Pont-d’Arc, FranceA natural stone arch across the Ardèche river. Rent a canoe and paddle under it.
- 68 km
Belvédère de la Madeleine
ViewsSaint-Remèze, FranceThe most spectacular of the lookouts on the gorge road, above the tight meander of the Cirque de la Madeleine. Canoes look tiny on the river 300 m below.
- 74 km
Aven d’Orgnac
NatureOrgnac-l’Aven, FranceA huge cave with giant stalagmites, entered by a lift and stairs, with a museum of prehistory at the top. A cool refuge on hot days, at a steady 13 °C.
