L'Ardéchoise : Les Hautes Terres

Here, the volcanoes and sucs of the Ardèche challenge their famous Auvergne neighbors. In this section, the Ardèche volcanoes and sucs are comparable to those fêted in neighbouring Auvergne. The Ardèche mountains reveal their Atlantic slopes, with an exceptional light and glorious nature marking the 21 ascents, almost all of them reaching above 1000m altitude. The ridges are formidable but rich with reward: including the Mont Mézenc, the highest point in Ardèche, and Sainte-Eulalie, situated at the foot of Mont Gerbier de Jonc. Make sure you stop at Lake Issarlès, a volcanic gem nestling in a crater surrounded by fir tree forests and basalt flows. The water is incredibly fresh and pure.