Ancône brings together striking traces of its Rhône history, historic walking routes and access to the ViaRhôna. When choosing a place to stay, you can focus on cultural discoveries in the village or give greater priority to the cycle route and waterways.
Historic traces of Rhône heritage
The Digue, along with the church, is considered one of Ancône’s most significant historic sites. Its current structure dates from the period following the great Rhône flood of 1856. This gives the structure a clear historical context: its present form belongs to the post-flood development of the area and connects the village to a specific chapter in its river history.
The “Ancône, fille du Rhône” walking route leads to preserved traces of Rhône heritage in the village. New stained-glass windows in the Chapelle-Maison du Patrimoine recall Ancône’s history. The Maison Cardinale commemorates Cardinal Richelieu’s stay on 25 August 1642 in Rue Cardinale in Ancône. The historical perspective thus ranges from traces in the village to a precisely dated event in the 17th century.
Walking routes and art in the village
The historic “Des quais d’Ancône aux îles du Rhône” route is marked in yellow and can be completed on foot or by bicycle, including by VTT (mountain bike) or VTC. Check the local signage before setting out. Planning the trip therefore involves choosing between walking and cycling, as well as following a specific local trail marking.
Another cultural attraction is the temporary “Parcours éphémère des murs d’Ancône” trail. It was created in 2025 with the active participation of local residents. The artist Scaro led the project and created most of the illustrations. The roles were distinct: local residents took an active part, while Scaro led the trail and created the majority of the illustrations.
ViaRhôna and waterways
The Himalaya Bridge provides direct access from Ancône to this remarkable structure and to the ViaRhôna. The ViaRhôna runs along the Rhône here; its full route extends from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean. These offer two different scales for planning a trip: a historic walking route marked in yellow locally, and a Rhône route whose full course stretches from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean.
A lône is a secondary or former river channel that fills during high water or floods. Fishing is possible at the lône and the counter-channel. For 2026, the Drôme fishing guide lists Lac d’Ancône as a body of water in Ancône where float-tube use is permitted. The information varies by location and activity: fishing is possible at the lône and the counter-channel; the Drôme fishing guide for 2026 lists Lac d’Ancône as a body of water in Ancône where float-tube use is permitted.
Discover more destinations: Anneyron, Recoubeau-Jansac, La Bâtie-Rolland, Bouchet, Allan, Saint-Julien-En-Quint, Saint-Roman, Hauterives
For the main travel overview: Drôme.
