3/ Pont-de-Chervil / Le Cheylard
© Paul Villecourt / outdoor-reporter.com
Le Cheylard: the cradle of industry in the Ardèche
Be prepared for a change of décor! You’re entering the Eyrieux Gorges, a truly enchanting place where La Dolce Via snakes through dense vegetation made even denser by the reflections in the river. Gradually, chestnut trees emerge as a backdrop, adding a touch of authentic Ardèche atmosphere to the charm of the place.
The structures you cross or pass through on your away along La Dolce Via are a reminder of the former railway, the CFD (chemin de fer départemental) – such as the tunnel at Sarny. On arrival at Le Cheylard, the second most important industrial centre of the Ardèche, nestling in the Eyrieux and Dorne Valleys, you have a chance to combine relaxation (two bathing sites near to La Dolce Via: Eyrium water sports centre and Le Chambaud lake) with cultural and scientific visits (Arche des Métiers museum, La Maison du Bijou jewellery museum, Château de la Chèze).
Commune of Belsentes: Following the heavy rainfall in October, which weakened the Moins Bridge used by residents of the hamlet of La Mûre to access the D120, the Dolce Via, from the locality of Trouiller-le-Bas to the locality of La Plaine, will temporarily become a shared route for light vehicles and cyclists. Normally closed to motorized vehicles on this section, this measure has been put in place to facilitate traffic flow.
