Our gîte is situated in Vernoux-en-Vivarais, in the northern Ardèche.
Approximately 1000 km from London (via Channel Tunnel), 80 km south of Lyon and 25 km west of Valence. Very well reachable via the "autoroute du soleil" and with the TGV, station Valence (Eurostar to Paris and then TGV to Valence, total approx. 6 hours).
Eventually we can pick you up at Valence.
The location o f the gîte is very quiet at about 1,5 km from the village (20 minutes walking through forest and fields), in the middle of forest and next to a brook.

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Several flat grassfield around the house make it possible to practice sports (soccer, tabletennis, volley-ball).
Many beautiful hikes in the surroundings which are characterized by a variation of hills, forests and agricultural land.
That the nature in the northern Ardèche is special can be derived from the fact that Vernoux is situated at the edge of the "Parc Naturel Régional des Monts d'Ardèche".


On daytrip distance with a car are located in the east the Drôme with the beautiful rough Vercors (various caves and picturesque villages like Pont-en-Royans, Combe-Laval, Die and Crest), and in the west the Mont Mézenc / Mont Gerbier de Jonc from which, on a clear day, one has a magnificent view over thousands of square miles. Somewhat south the town of Orange is located, with it's splendid open air theatre from Roman times. Furthermore there is offcourse the river the Ardèche itself with the famous natural carved bridge at Vallon Pont d'Arc where one can make canootrips and swim at riverbeaches. 

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In the village of Vernoux itself there is a lake with beach, excellently suited to swim with small children. Vernoux has a regional function so that all collective facilities are available, such as : a big Intermarché supermarket, bakeries, butcherie, shops with local products, postoffice, tourist information office, swimmingpool, tenniscourt, gymnasium, garages, several cafés and restaurants and a typical french weekmarket on thursdays.




In the center a church is located with the highest belltower of the Ardèche.
At 15 km distance one finds the small town Lamastre (weekmarket on tuesdays) from which a daytrip can be made to Tournon in a restored steamtrain, through the beautiful landscape of the northern Ardèche (does not operate temporarily).
Valence itself is located at the river Rhône, and has a pleasant old center with many restaurants and modern shops. At Romans (just north of Valence) the "Palais Ideal" is found, a very artistic building that was constructed by hand by a mailman during his full life, stone by stone.




20 Km south the river Eyrieux is cutting its way through the landscape. Both on the Eyrieux as on the smaller Doux one can practice canoeing.
Within 10 minutes by car characteristic villages like Chalencon and Boffres are located, where nearly all houses are built "en pierre" (with old natural stones).

The gîte is very well suited as startingpoint for walking- and cyclinggroups, and to accommodate music- and painting groups etc.