River Ardèche Gorges 4 May 2011

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To-day, we are going to visit and hike the gorges of the river Ardèche. As usual, we have waited for very fine weather for we want to make a success with the photos.

We cross the river Rhône and enter the Gard département. Here is Pont-Saint-Esprit seen from its old bridge.

The road RD290 offers quite a lot of fine points of view of the gorges.

The Vallon-Pont-d’Arc arch is the star turn of this outing. Here is the east side of this natural monument in the morning light. I think it’s not possible to cross the river on foot using this ‘bridge’, though.

We turn round and drive a few kilometers, then we park and walk down to the river.

Bellflowers like waterside coolness.

We hike to this rock nicknamed ‘the Cathedral’, on the left bank. When I looked at the photo at home, I realized one can sight like a king’s face staring at us severely. This illusion that there are faces everywhere is called pareidolia. See an amazing example of this phenomenon HERE.

The fine views deserve a small effort sometimes.

We go back to the car and drive again to Vallon-Pont-d’Arc arch because we want to see the other side of it in the afternoon light.

 

Which side do you prefer? Both are very impressive.

The light has changed on the gorges as well. We stop once more, on our way home, to admire this omega-shaped meander.                       Huberaime