Païolive Wood
Have you heard of the Bois de Paiolive in South Ardèche? Come and recharge your batteries at a campsite at the foot of the Bois de Païolive. In Southern Ardèche, remarkable sites and places of interest abound. Many holidaymakers and tourists flock to this exceptional destination, which offers enchanting nature and sights of all kinds. As well as the breathtaking Ardèche gorges, the Chauvet cave and the Ray Pic waterfalls, the Bois de Païolive, close to the Ardèche campsite, is also very popular.
The Bois de Paiolive is a lush, mysterious oak forest covering almost 16 km² in the extreme south of the Ardèche, at the foot of the Cévennes in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It converges between the communes of Vans de Banne and Berrias-et-Casteljau in Ardèche Méridionale. For a vacation in the Ardèche department with your family, book now at Camping Bois de Paiolive. This geological wonder is a must-see for lovers of contemplative walks, mysteries and legends. This mineral and vegetal chaos will captivate you with its imposing limestone rocks and their astonishing, enigmatic shapes. Its impressive sculptures of jagged blocks are the atypical works of erosion and sedimentation caused by the sea that still covered this territory over 150 million years ago. Together with the white oaks, they form a labyrinth between faults known as Lapiaz. The local population also calls it “fados le bois de fée” (fairy wood) and attributes various Ardèche tales and legends to it.
Païolive Wood
When you visit the Bois de Paiolive, take the time to observe everything. All your senses will be alert as you immerse yourself in a world that’s more alive than you can imagine. The area is home to a wide variety of birds, insects, amphibians, beetles and mammals.
As you wander through the labyrinths with your guide, who will tell you a few anecdotes about the Bois de Païolive and its fascinating rocks, have fun imagining shapes and characters based on the silhouettes of its natural sculptures. Among the most popular shapes, for example, is the emblematic rock depicting a bear and a lion, who seem to be facing off against each other. The Bois de Païolive boasts a number of signposted hiking trails, including La Vierge, La Bouche du Randonneur and La Corniche. From the Bois de Paiolive campsite, these trails allow you to discover the surprising rock shapes, as well as the rich biodiversity of this area of great heritage value. Another must-do activity in the Bois de Païolive, especially if you’re not afraid of heights, is the Via Corda. It’s a walk on the ledge perched on a cliff, while being connected to the handrail fixed at several points on the cliff. It’s a unique and thrilling experience that gives you a breathtaking overview of the area and the campsite’s surroundings. For more information on Bois de Paiolive, visit ardeche-guide.com. For sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers, the Ardèche and Sud-Ardèche region has many surprises in store, including numerous caves for caving, mountain bike trails in the heart of nature, and rivers and rapids for swimming or canoeing in the Ardèche.
