Privas

Visit Privas, Rhone-Alpes

Capital of the Ardèche department and in the Rhône-Alpes region, the city of Privas is the smallest prefecture in France with a little over 10,000 inhabitants. Although its citizens, called privadois, are not numerous, the city is known around France for its crème de marrons and the surrounding rugged landscape makes it a center for outdoor sports and exploration.

Three rivers go around Privas: the Mezayon, the Ouvèze, and the Charalon. Beyond and between them are gorges and craggy hills that give the Privas region its character.

Explore Privas

While the city of Privas itself attracts less visitors than the beautiful terrain around the town there are a few landmarks worth visiting in Privas itself.

During the siege of 1629, Privas was almost completely destroyed by Richelieu’s troops who wanted to return power to the king in the protestant city. Eventually, Privas was rebuilt as a center of commerce, but barely any traces of the original city remain. Although heavily damaged in the siege, the 15th century Pont Louis-XIII is still standing over the Ouvèze.

The 15th century Tour Diane-Poitiers on the Place de la Republique also offers a view into what the city looked like before the siege. A walk up to the three crosses of Montoulon on a hill in town provides a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding area.

In fall, the streets of Privas are littered with chestnuts and the Castagnades d’Automne each October celebrates the chestnut with festivals around the Ardèche. In Privas, the festival includes a market with a variety of chestnut products, including pasta, spice bread, flour, liqueur, and even sausage, available for purchase. There is also a massive chestnut roasting in the center of town where free wine and roasted chestnuts are given away.

Crème de marrons, a chestnut spread, and marrons glacés, candied chestnuts, are both specialties of Privas. They can be bought year round in grocery stores in France, with the most popular being the crème de marron made by the Privas-founded Clément Faugier.

A Saturday morning market offers regionally made and grown products, fruits, and vegetables. For lunch and dinner, most restaurants offer French specialties like crepes, tartines, and regional foods. La Houbl’ane at 7, Rue Elie Régnier has tartines, fondue, and raclette and Le Corentin at 2, Place République has a variety of crepes.

Visiting

While there are hotels in Privas, it is also inexpensive to rent a room in a house outside of town or rent a chalet or pitch a tent at Ardèche Camping.

The Ardèche is the only department in France that does not have train service and it is only accessible by car or bus. Buses regularly leave from the Gare Routière and TGV station in nearby Valence and the journey usually takes about an hour.

Activities nearby

Information on outdoor activities and rentals can be found at the Office de Tourisme Privas-Rhône et Vallées at 3, Place Général de Gaulle. Privas is near the Parc Naturel Régional des Monts d’Ardèche, a natural park that offers hiking, dog sledding, snowshoeing, canyoning, and rock climbing excursions.

See Rhone-Alpes and Ardeche (the region and department for Privas) for more travel ideas...

Suggested places to visit near Privas, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Montelimar 23km; Vogue 25km; Ailhon 25km; Meyras 27km; Viviers 29km; Puygiron 29km; Jaujac 29km; Desaignes 30km; Thueyts 31km; Balazuc 31km; Valence 32km;

Privas tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Abbatiale Sainte-Marie (Cruas) - religious monument (15km) : Vals-les-Bains - recommended detour (20km) : Monts d'Ardeche - regional natural parc (25km) : Cascade du Ray-Pic - site of natural beauty (28km) : Parc Jouvet - remarkable garden (32km) : Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire (Valence) - religious monument (32km) : Abbaye d'Aiguebelle (Montjoyer) - religious monument (35km) : Gorges du Gardon - grand site of france (36km) :

See more places and a map at places near Privas