Stay Idea - 'In the Heart of Ardèche Authenticity'

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Exploring the Pays de Lamastre holds genuine surprises! Between authenticity, lifestyle, and preserved nature, it captivates both heart and palate with its charm!

DAY 1 – Saturday – Authenticity at its Finest

Between the Doux Gorges and the gateway to the Monts d’Ardèche Regional Nature Park, Lamastre is a charming small town renowned for its Saturday morning local farmers’ market, featuring wonderful stalls offering cheese, cured meats, honey, locally grown vegetables and much more.

Explore the town with the “Tag&Play” discovery trail, available on the Tag&Play Parcours connectés app.

Then head to the charming village of character of Désaignes for lunch at one of our partner restaurants. This is the perfect opportunity to taste some Ardèche specialities:

Crique, a grated potato pancake, seasoned to taste and fried in a pan;
Caillette, a ball of meat mixed with herbs and cooked in caul fat;
Tomme en salade, a whipped cheese mixed with toasted rapeseed oil and flavoured with herbs and spices.

Enjoy a visit to the Désaignes castle-museum, a true medieval journey in the heart of the Ardèche. Admire the 14th-century castle, its spiral staircase, collection of traditional tools, kitchen and much more.

Cool off at one of the three swimming spots in the Pays de Lamastre: Les Salins lake in Désaignes, the Doux river beach in Labatie-d’Andaure, or Retourtour lake in Lamastre. Swimming is supervised only in July and August.

Dinner at one of our partner restaurants in the Pays de Lamastre.

Overnight at one of our partner accommodations in the Pays de Lamastre.

DAY 2 – In the Footsteps of the Legendary Ardèche Train

From Lamastre, discover the Doux Valley as far as Boucieu-le-Roi. The Green Ardèche unfolds before you during this 14-kilometre railway journey, alternating between a railcar and a steam train with a direct connection.

You will also have the opportunity to cross the 45th parallel north, located exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator.

Lunch at one of our partner restaurants.

Treat yourself to the famous Lou Pisadou, a frangipane pastry filled with chestnuts on a sweet pastry base, served with chestnut cream and an almond dacquoise.

Or try Picodon, a small cheese made from whole raw goat’s milk, one of the emblematic specialities of the Ardèche.

After your local lunch break, set off on the “Col de Montreynaud” hiking trail, which takes around 5½ hours.

For a more leisurely walk, you can instead choose the “Around Maisonseule Castle” trail, lasting approximately 2 hours.