Saint-Privat combines a circular hike through varied landscapes with a tangible local history. The “De l’Ardèche au Luol” trail leads from the Ardèche plain into wooded hills above the Luol Valley and ends at the Ardèche and the Saint-Privat Canal. The Pont-Vieux and the church provide further concrete points of reference for the area’s history; the Aire de loisirs de St Privat offers another way to spend time outdoors.
A circular hike between the plain and the hills
The “De l’Ardèche au Luol” circular hike is 11.9 kilometres long and rated moderate. The stated duration is 2 hours 40 minutes, with 335 metres of ascent and 335 metres of descent. Distance, elevation gain and loss, and duration answer different planning questions: the distance describes the overall length, the elevation figures add the ascents and descents, and the duration provides a separate time frame. You can weigh these figures separately when planning; the moderate rating provides additional guidance.
The trail leads from the Ardèche plain into wooded hills above the Luol Valley. It starts at the information sign on Place des Jardins Publics in Saint-Privat and ends at the Ardèche and the Saint-Privat Canal. As route details and the starting point may change, check the latest information about the route and starting point before setting off.
Canal, bridge and church
The canal is a tangible link between the hike and local history: the circular route ends there, and the 2.7-kilometre Canal des arrosants was built at the beginning of the 17th century. The Pont-Vieux in Saint-Privat also dates from the 17th century. The canal and the bridge therefore belong to the same period but are different structures.
The church has two distinct construction dates: its foundations date from the late 11th century, while the present-day church was built in 1862. Historically, the church was a dependency of the Priory of Ucel, which was affiliated with the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Chaffre du Monastier. This lets you distinguish the early date of the foundations from the construction of the present-day church; its historical affiliation adds an ecclesiastical context to the building’s history.
Outdoor leisure activities
The Aire de loisirs de St Privat offers children’s play equipment, including a slide, swings, and spring riders and seesaws. There are also tennis courts, a pétanque court and a skate park. For a break, there are picnic tables, a water point and shaded areas. The site brings together play, sport and outdoor relaxation. Unlike the circular hike, whose duration and elevation figures shape your planning, the leisure area offers several different activities in one place.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Romain-De-Lerps, Saint-Jean-Roure, Pourchères, Vals-Les-Bains, Lablachère, Saint-Désirat, Dunière-sur-Eyrieux and Issarlès.
Back to the main travel overview: Ardèche.
