Arc en Ciel - a campsite by the river in Vallon Pont d’Arc
By the Ardèche river, in the town of Vallon Pont d’Arc which is very popular with tourists, the Arc en Ciel campsite is located. Having joined the Ciela Village group at the beginning of the 2023 season, it enjoys an enchanting and lush setting by the river, superb water park, spacious pitches and comfortable and well-equipped holiday rentals.
On the campsite by the Ardèche, in a wild and natural setting
Located in a wooded park by the Ardèche river, at the gateway to Vallon Pont d'Arc, this outdoor establishment is a perfect base to discover the region’s tourist attractions, including the famous Ardèche gorges and Grotte Chauvet 2 cave (a replica with paintings and engravings). Within an unspoilt natural setting, this high-end establishment offers you pitches and family accommodation in various categories, able to accommodate from 2 to 6 persons.
Within these Ardèche grounds, you can in particular opt for a semi-shaded grass pitch, marked out by trees with electricity and a water point nearby. Stays on the pitches, on a per night basis, as might be expected provide access to 2 sanitary blocks, accessible to persons with reduced mobility, and the possibility for optional hire of a private bathroom or certain equipment, such as a fridge or plancha.
As for accommodation, various types of furnished tents are available to you. Perched on stilts in timber and canvas, they each have plenty for you to have an out-of-the-ordinary stay, in perfect harmony with the Ardéche countryside. Family mobile homes with various capacities are also available. Practical, fully equipped, they all have large covered or semi-covered terraces, so you can make the most of outdoor life.
Water pleasures and sports activities are on the programme for your Vallon Pont d’Arc holiday
On-site, various activities await you, with first and foremost swimming. The campsite has a lovely water park. Water slides, paddling pool, water games, waterfalls, Jacuzzi, massage rivers and other water pleasures will delight the entire family. The campsite is also located along the Ardèche river, whose banks are directly accessible from the campsite. The peaceful and sufficiently deep waters make it a location favourable to relaxation, swimming but also fishing and water sports activities, such as stand-up paddle boarding or canoeing.
The campsite facilities allow you at your leisure to play pétanque, ping-pong, table football or billiards. In the high season a sports club, for teens and adults, organizes volleyball, football and slacklining competitions. Notably, activity leaders offer family Olympiads and several times a week themed evenings, such as karaoke, concerts or summer dances. For younger ones, a children’s club runs craft, play and art activities, such as make-up workshops, aqua fun or the mini disco. Lastly, the very young can have fun on a play area given over to them, with a see-saw, turnstile, slide and spring animals on a rope bridge.
To liven up your stay, a bar - restaurant having a large shaded terrace welcomes you with breakfast menus, lunch snacks, evening gourmet menu, either to eat in or takeaway, and themed evenings in the high season (mussels and chips, paella...) to meet all your needs. A bar lounge space with Wi-Fi area, billiards and table football also enables you to relax and watch television, during major sports event broadcasts. In summer, there is also a grocery on-hand to do your shopping and buy your favourite newspapers.
Amongst canyons, prehistoric caves and character villages
The campsite is also an excellent starting point to discover a region whose countryside and caves, which date back to prehistoric times, are amongst the most spectacular beauty spots in France, starting with the Ardèche gorges. These canyons provide the opportunity for kayaking on the river, which meanders over several dozen kilometres of high limestone cliffs. You’ll be able to admire the wild countryside and rocky arches including the magnificent Pont d'Arc ‘bridge’.
The department also has numerous character villages (having the Villages de Caractère label), with bucolic charm, such as Vogüé, Beauchastel, Saint Montan, Désaignes or even Balazuc, one of the loveliest villages in France. This has the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France designation. By overlooking the river this village, with its tiled houses, Romanesque church, castle and keep from the 10th century, is a genuine little Ardéche gem. You can even swim in the river, at the foot of the village after the visit. Make the most of these trips to enjoy Ardéche culinary delights and above all the Chestnut, a local source of pride, which can be enjoyed in all its forms: Crème de Marrons (chestnut cream purée), Marrons Glacés (candied chestnuts), soups. Other local gourmet mainstays are Caillette, a small pork pâté with herbs or Picodon, a famous goat’s cheese from the region.
However the Ardèche, whose massifs are mainly limestone, has an abundance of caves and potholes, which served as dwellings in prehistoric times. Some that are laid out for visits are truly worth seeing. The most amazing of these is unquestionably the famous Grotte Chauvet cave, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014, which houses the most ancient cave paintings in the history of mankind. For conservation reasons, the replica of this cave, restored as an exact copy, is open to the public. A fantastic journey through time, equally amazing and informative, which you cannot miss...
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