The Ardèche river known to be most irregular of France less than one cubic meter second with several tens of thousands, takes its source with the Collar of Chavade. Its course makes 120 kilometer of its source into the Rhone. Throughout its advance, like it showed the thousands of photographs which were devoted to him, and the multiple books and poems which it caused, of many stages can be the subject of visit, of discovery. Let us let slip all along the river.....

With names like Claude PESCHIER, Mikaël FARGIER today... the Ardèche river initiated many vocations around the CANOE-KAYAK. Claude PESCHIER medal of individual gold and by team in K1 slalom, at the time of the championships of the World 1969 in Bourg-Saint-Maurice France. Mikaël FARGIER vice-champion of the individual World and gold medal by team in K1 (descents) at the time of the championships of the world 1998 in Garmisch (Germany).

It is in 1912 probably that the first descent of the Gorges of Ardeche was carried out in canoé. It is evoked by J Désert and P. Monneret in the very serious bulletin of the Canoe-club of France. From the "Pont d'Arc" to Saint Martin, Ardeche runs at the bottom of a rock canyon of a size, a brutality, a beauty unimaginable. Therefore for the canoeists to make this stage of one only draft would be regrettable and we thus advise to devote at least two days to it... "

A person on three would have discovered the canoe-kayak in Ardeche "There is here, a true culture of water" says Claude Peschier ardéchois pure stock, native of Small valley Bridge of Arc and former champion of the world of slalom... As for the Rhone, they are the boatmen who were the first, to try to overcome with their boat, "waters running" of the Ardeche river.

Pioneers who were the boatmen with the adventurers of the canoe-kayak, a whole economy was built around the "Gorges de l'Ardeche" and of the "Riviere Ardeche". Thus was created the first camp-site in 1950 with the locality "the tunnels" remarkable natural building built by erosion with the wire of the centuries. In 1958 creation of the association of the " canyon " of Ardeche, approved by Touring Club of France, and installation of the first nautical base of the "Mas de Serret" located on the commune of Labastide de Virac, first inscription with the trade register of Aubenas for the hiring of canoes. In 1975 creation of a unit of gendarme-canoeists 1980 classification of the gorges of Ardeche in natural reserve. In 1982 prohibition of the famous " rolls " ( boudins), being able to contain more than 3 people. Installation with the most difficult rapids of the race, stations of security held by firemen. That of water the Bridge of Arc (" Pont d'Arc") ,saw running out under its arch until the last rising of 1992... What a long way to start managing canoe-kayak as a " tourist tool ". During the latest "vogue" of the canoe, the "Gorges de l'Ardeche" were really in danger. As of Easter arrive the first " bitten " to arrive at the most intense period at more than 3000 canoes - kayaks / day!... A whole village moves on the water of Ardeche River, the risks of pollution, destruction of fauna and of the flora are significant.

Fortunately, nature seems to have begun again its rights and the in love ones with the site took the top on the promoters in all kinds, stripped of scruples. The classification of the site in "natural reserve" was fundamental and essential. The discovery of the Chauvet Cave could prove to be a new risk for the site, but, the will to link culture and canoe makes its way, and tomorrow will appear new customers which will associate "tourism and culture", "sports and leisures". To bronze idiotic? it was yesterday.