One day trip to the Ardèche Gorges - Geology and Swimming｜France

Geo-walk: a journey through the history of the Earth. Welcome to this experience!

A tailor-made day, guided by a geologist through the landscapes of the south of the Ardèche: geology, heritage, and river swimming follow one after the other, between Banne, the Bois de Païolive, Les Vans, and the Gorges de l'Ardèche. The day's transportation is planned together, starting in the morning.

10 am - 12 pm: Geo-walk in Banne
Departure from the Château de Banne. Under our feet lies a fragment of the Cévennes coal basin: 300 million years ago, dense vegetation accumulated in swampy areas before becoming coal, which was mined starting in the 17th century. As we descend towards the river, the edges of the Bois de Païolive tell the story of a warm sea 150 million years old, whose limestone sculpted by water gave rise to these shapes reminiscent of a bear, a lion, or an elephant — Berrias gave its name to the Berriasian, a geological stage defined in this area. The route also crosses the edge of the Cevennes, where sedimentary limestone and ancient metamorphic bedrock come into contact through a major fault.

12:15 PM - 1:30 PM: Organic & local lunch
High-quality, organic, and local picnic provided by the live guide.

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Musée des Vans
Geology and archaeology, including the Berriasian mentioned that morning in the field.

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Bois de Païolive — Geo-walk and swim in the Chassezac
Second 90-minute geo-walk, then swimming on site, at Mazet Plage, Chaulet Plage, or La Padelle.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Final swim under the Pont d'Arc
The day ends under the most famous natural arch in the Ardèche.

The geo-walk is a sensitive, naturalistic, and scientific exploration of landscapes: telling the story of the Earth, making connections between bedrock, soils, biodiversity, and climate change.