Lovers of the great outdoors will be in heaven here; a spectacular mountainous green region of south-central France. It's best known for its rugged countryside and the beautiful Ardèche river, which flows for miles through spectacular limestone gorges. Hire a kayak and spend a day floating along, admiring natural rock arches. Pont d'Arc is the most famous, fringed by a golden river beach; the Chassezac gorge, meanwhile, is sometime called the French Grand Canyon. Nearby, the Madeleine Cave is filled with soaring stalagmites and natural baths, while the Chauvet Caves contain some of the world's earliest known figurative paintings.
West of the Ardèche, the Cévennes National Park is famed for walking, rock climbing and pre-historic art. The turquoise Lac d’Issarles is a glorious place for wild swimming, the Tarn and Jonte river gorges for canoeing. We love the picturesque ancient villages of Balazuc and Labeaume, and the fortified hilltop town of Aubenas is a must, with an imposing medieval castle and cobbled streets.
Further north you reach the forested uplands, volcanic domes and limestone causses (plateaux) of the Massif Central, which is part of the wider Auvergne region. Wild and remote, it is dotted with small lakes and infant river gorges; the Dordogne, Loire, Lot and Tarn all rise here. The region is also home to some of the most beautiful medieval villages in France - Salers, Tournemire, Blesle and Lavaudieu stand out. It's also great for birdwatching and stargazing: a total lack of light pollution means night skies are incredible.