Vallon-Pont-d'Arc

Vallon-Pont-d'Arc (occitan: Valon) is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.

Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is a capital of prehistoric and cultural tourism. This small village, peaceful in wintertime, sees its population expand ten-fold in summer. Its tourist importance largely comes from the fact that it is the departure point for the descent of the gorge of the Ardèche river (from Pont d'Arc to Saint-Martin-d'Ardeche).

Geography

Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is situated at the threshold of one of the most beautiful tourist sites of France: "les gorges de l'Ardèche" (the Ardèche canyon). The famous Pont d'Arc, a natural arch of more than 30 metres height, carved out by the Ardèche and classified as a Great Site of France, gave it its name.

1.8 km (1.1 mi) southeast of the village, the River Ibie flows into the Ardèche, which forms all of the commune's southwestern border.

History

Pont d'Arc

The Pont d'Arc (French pont = bridge) is a large natural bridge, located in the Ardèche département in the south of France, 5 km from the town of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.

The arch, carved out by the Ardèche River, is 60 m wide and 54 m high. It is a very popular canoeing and kayaking area and is heavily visited by tourists. It is usually described as the natural entrance to the Ardèche Canyon.

In the near vicinity of the arch is the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, containing the earliest known paleolithic cave paintings, about 30,000 years old (See also the 3D documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams by film director Werner Herzog).

References

See also

Coordinates: 44°22′55″N 4°25′00″E / 44.38194°N 4.41667°E / 44.38194; 4.41667