The Païolive Wood, a fairy nature site

Discover a magical, geological wood

Take a mysterious walk through the Païolive wood, one of the most unusual sites in Ardeche.  This natural maze above the Chassezac river is located between the communities of Les Vans, Banne and Berrias-et-Casteljau, an area of woodland dotted since the dawn of time with bizarre blocks of limestone, sculpted by erosion.  This atmospheric and puzzling mix of rock and vegetation is a wonderfully atmospheric place for a walk. 

Family visits to the Païolive Wood

Child in the Païolive wood
Child in the Païolive wood, © ©Borre_Zimmermann-ot_Cevennes_d_Ardeche-ADT07
Familly in the Paiolive Wood
Familly in the Paiolive Wood, © ©Benoit_Colomb-PACT_Cevennes-ADT07
The Paiolive wood
The Paiolive wood, © ©A.Renaud-Goud-ADT07
Child in the Païolive wood
Child in the Païolive wood, © ©Borre_Zimmermann-ot_Cevennes_d_Ardeche-ADT07

An air of mystery

Experience the magic of the rocks, oak trees and the gentle sounds of nature.

©A.Renaud-Goud-ADT07

Did you know?

More than 20 species of bats live in the Païolive Wood.

Rocks shaped like animals

Use your imagination to see animals in the strange rock shapes.   Is that an elephant?  A lion maybe?  Or perhaps a bear?  There’s fun for all ages in this enchanted forest. 

The Païolive wood "The bear and the lion"
The Païolive wood "The bear and the lion", © ©Ph.Fournier-ADT07
Païolive wood
Païolive wood, © ©A.Renaud-Goud-ADT07

A 5km walk

Try one of the various shady walking loops but be careful to keep your feet on the paths as the Païolive Wood is a protected nature site. And maybe pass close to the Saint-Eugène hermitage, perched on rock and part of a circular loop suggested by the Ardeche Cevennes Tourist Office.

Man wandering in the Paiolive wood
Man wandering in the Paiolive wood, ©A.Renaud-Goud-ADT07

A Sensitive Natural Space

These protected spaces (ENS or Espace Naturel Sensible) are special because of their biodiversity, their different landscapes or geology.  The Païolive Wood is home to a number of rare wildlife species and plants.

Prepare and book my stay around Païolive Wood

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Activities around Païolive Wood

  • Fly over the Gorges de l’Ardèche with the aeroplane flying school

    Sporting activities 9.5/10

    Bookable online

    Closed. Opens at 08:00 am

    Labeaume

    Fly over the Gorges de l’Ardèche with the aeroplane flying school
    Fly over the Gorges de l’Ardèche with the aeroplane flying school

  • Canyon Adventure : Upper Chassezac – Full Descent – Full Day – Explo

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Berrias-et-Casteljau

    Canyon Adventure : Upper Chassezac – Full Descent – Full Day – Explo
    Canyon Adventure : Upper Chassezac – Full Descent – Full Day – Explo

  • Canoë Kayak – Ceven’Aventure

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Vans

    Canoë Kayak – Ceven’Aventure
    Canoë Kayak – Ceven’Aventure

  • Canyoning Découverte – Ceven’Aventure

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Assions

    Canyoning Découverte – Ceven’Aventure
    Canyoning Découverte – Ceven’Aventure

  • Explo – Parcours Via Corda

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Berrias-et-Casteljau

    Explo – Parcours Via Corda
    Explo – Parcours Via Corda

  • Canoë kayak

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Berrias-et-Casteljau

    Canoë kayak
    Canoë kayak

  • Canoe-Kayak Rental- CCC-Canoë

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Assions

    Canoe-Kayak Rental- CCC-Canoë
    Canoe-Kayak Rental- CCC-Canoë

  • Archery – Ceven’Aventure

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Assions

    Archery – Ceven’Aventure
    Archery – Ceven’Aventure

  • Stand Up Paddle – Ceven’Aventure

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Assions

    Stand Up Paddle – Ceven’Aventure
    Stand Up Paddle – Ceven’Aventure

  • Canoe guide – Edmond Gayral

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Vans

    Canoe guide – Edmond Gayral
    Canoe guide – Edmond Gayral

  • Cycling with Edmond Guide Moniteur

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Vans

    Cycling with Edmond Guide Moniteur
    Cycling with Edmond Guide Moniteur

  • Stand up Paddle – CCC-Canoë

    Sporting activities

    Bookable online

    Les Assions

    Stand up Paddle – CCC-Canoë
    Stand up Paddle – CCC-Canoë
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    Accommodation around the Païolive Wood

  • 2 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Gîte “Rivière” – Mme Vincent Odile

    Bookable online
    • Vogüé
    Gîte “Rivière” – Mme Vincent Odile
    Gîte “Rivière” – Mme Vincent Odile
  • 3 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Mas de la rose | Roséa 3

    • Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
    Mas de la rose | Roséa 3
    Mas de la rose | Roséa 3
  • 2 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Le Châtaigner 4 à 6 personnes – Village de Gîtes la Fontinelle

    Bookable online
    • Bessas
    Le Châtaigner 4 à 6 personnes – Village de Gîtes la Fontinelle
    Le Châtaigner 4 à 6 personnes – Village de Gîtes la Fontinelle
  • 3 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Gîte des Campanes – L’Olivier

    • Saint-Alban-Auriolles
    Gîte des Campanes – L’Olivier
    Gîte des Campanes – L’Olivier
  • Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Mas de la rose | Roséa 2

    • Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
    Mas de la rose | Roséa 2
    Mas de la rose | Roséa 2
  • 4 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Bastide-Saint-Martin | “Le Razal”

    • Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
    Bastide-Saint-Martin | “Le Razal”
    Bastide-Saint-Martin | “Le Razal”
  • 2 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Bengalie

    • Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
    Bengalie
    Bengalie
  • Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Chapelle Marc

    • Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
    Chapelle Marc
    Chapelle Marc
  • Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Mas de la rose | Roséa 4

    • Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
    Mas de la rose | Roséa 4
    Mas de la rose | Roséa 4
  • 2 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Gîte Chez Angèle

    Bookable online
    • Vogüé
    Gîte Chez Angèle
    Gîte Chez Angèle
  • Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Le Grain de Sel Location

    • Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche
    Le Grain de Sel Location
    Le Grain de Sel Location
  • 2 stars
    Furnished accommodation and Gîtes

    Maison M. Diet Thierry

    Bookable online
    • Ruoms
    Maison M. Diet Thierry
    Maison M. Diet Thierry
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    Restaurants around Paiolive wood

  • Le Bec Figue

    Restaurant 8.7/10

    Labeaume

    Le Bec Figue
    Le Bec Figue

  • Bar Restaurant La Brasserie

    Restaurant

    Les Vans

    Bar Restaurant La Brasserie
    Bar Restaurant La Brasserie

  • Koyal

    Restaurant

    Les Vans

    Koyal
    Koyal

  • Auberge l’Aure

    Restaurant 9/10

    Montselgues

    Auberge l’Aure
    Auberge l’Aure

  • Auberge Les Murets

    Hotel-Restaurant 9.6/10

    Chandolas

    Auberge Les Murets
    Auberge Les Murets

  • L’Olivier de Païolive

    Restaurant 9.7/10

    Closed. Opens at 12:00 pm

    Les Vans

    L’Olivier de Païolive
    L’Olivier de Païolive

  • Don Camillo

    Restaurant

    Les Vans

    Don Camillo
    Don Camillo

  • Likoké

    1 star 2026 Restaurant 9.3/10

    Closed. Opens at 12:00 pm

    Les Vans

    Likoké
    Likoké

  • La Feuille de Chou

    Restaurant 9.7/10

    Les Vans

    La Feuille de Chou
    La Feuille de Chou

  • Pizzeria Chez Alex

    Restaurant

    Closed. Opens at 11:00 am

    Les Vans

    Pizzeria Chez Alex
    Pizzeria Chez Alex

  • Roule ma poule

    Restaurant

    Closed. Opens at 12:00 pm

    Les Vans

    Roule ma poule
    Roule ma poule

  • Restaurant la Bombine

    Farmhouse inn 9.8/10

    Montselgues

    Restaurant la Bombine
    Restaurant la Bombine
    • See everything

    What’s on ?

    Must see, must do

  • Dégustation œnologique à 50 mètres sous terre et visite de la Grotte

    06 June 2026

    • Orgnac-l’Aven
    Dégustation œnologique à 50 mètres sous terre et visite de la Grotte
    Dégustation œnologique à 50 mètres sous terre et visite de la Grotte

  • The ‘Labeaume en Musiques’ Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary!

    28 May 07 June 2026

    • Labeaume
    The ‘Labeaume en Musiques’ Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary!
    The ‘Labeaume en Musiques’ Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary!

  • Quilles, The living wine festival

    13 June 14 June 2026

    • Gravières
    Quilles, The living wine festival
    Quilles, The living wine festival

  • Aluna

    25 June 27 June 2026

    • Ruoms
    Aluna
    Aluna

  • Music’à Jalès Festival

    01 July 05 August 2026

    • Berrias-et-Casteljau
    Music’à Jalès Festival
    Music’à Jalès Festival

  • Investigation in Jalès, a family discovery game

    07 July 28 August 2026

    • Berrias-et-Casteljau
    Investigation in Jalès, a family discovery game
    Investigation in Jalès, a family discovery game

  • Visite historique de l’Aven d’Orgnac Grand Site de France

    01 July 31 August 2026

    • Orgnac-l’Aven
    Visite historique de l’Aven d’Orgnac Grand Site de France
    Visite historique de l’Aven d’Orgnac Grand Site de France

  • Aven d’Orgnac, les visites de l’été : visite et dégustation œnologique à 50 m sous terre

    01 July 31 August 2026

    • Orgnac-l’Aven
    Aven d’Orgnac, les visites de l’été : visite et dégustation œnologique à 50 m sous terre
    Aven d’Orgnac, les visites de l’été : visite et dégustation œnologique à 50 m sous terre

  • International Petanque

    17 September 20 September 2026

    • Ruoms
    International Petanque
    International Petanque
    • See everything

    Closed. Opens at 09:00 am

    Cévennes d’Ardèche – Bureau des Vans

    place Léopold Ollier 07140 Les Vans

    04 75 37 24 48
    Website
    Plan my route

    Top 10

    To discover

  • Crussol castle back to the Middle Ages

    Aerial view of the Crussol castle

  • Grotte Chauvet 2 – Ardeche

    Children at Grotte Chauvet 2 Pont d'Arc

  • Mont-Gerbier de Jonc

    Family running towards Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc in spring

  • Peaugres Safari, the preservation of species

    Little girl facing a tiger at the Peaugres Safari

  • The Ardeche steam train, a historical line

    The Ardeche Train

  • The Ray-Pic waterfalls and the volcanic heritage

    Ray-Pic waterfalls

  • Pont d’Arc and the Ardeche gorges

    Canoe under the Pont d'Arc

  • Aven d’Orgnac ‘Grand site de France ‘

    Orgnac Grand Site De France

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