Privas is the capital city of the Ardèche department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Its territory of 12 km² extends from 200 to 750 m altitude, at the foot of the volcanic plateau of Coiron, to the south, an extension of the Massif Central. Crossed by the Ouvèze, a tributary of the Rhône whose course is distant to the east only about ten kilometers, the locality is already inhabited in Antiquity but the village does not really develop until the Middle Ages around a church belonging to the order of Cluny then a castle built in the 13th century.
It is then the seat of a seigneury under the Counts of Valence who grant Privas economic and fiscal freedoms thanks to a franchise charter.
Follows a prosperous period, and the town becomes a small town. The appearance of the Reformation in the 16th century is however synonymous with upheaval. A large majority of the population adheres to Protestantism and Privas constitutes a true "small Huguenot state". The Wars of Religion engender a repression which the city resists. Catholic worship is no longer celebrated for 70 years. However, in 1629, the royal armies eventually defeated the defense of Privas. The city is razed to the ground.
Privas is being rebuilt, however, and during the Revolution, the city becomes the prefecture of the new department of Ardèche, which corresponds to the former province of Vivarais. Administrative center, Privas will also be famous for its specialties, and becomes the capital of frozen chestnut.
Heritage elements dating for some from the reconstruction desired under Louis XIV, a rich offer of cultural and "nature" leisure activities, the proximity of the Rhône valley and the verdant Ardèche valley make Privas, which has some 8,700 inhabitants, a pleasant stopover or even an ideal holiday resort for exploring the region.
If it was razed at the beginning of the 17th century, the city was rebuilt and then endowed with major heritage elements which contributed to its "rebirth".
The bridge over the Ouvèze also known as the "Louis XIII bridge" is thus protected as historical monuments. In the 17th century, the king ordered the repair of a 12th century bridge in a spirit of conciliation but also to facilitate possible troop movements in the event of a new rebellion. The structure has retained its nobility but in terms of circulation, it has been abandoned in favor of a viaduct built in 1855, upstream.
Also worth seeing is the Diane de Poitiers tower which provides access to a private mansion, Place de la République or a Gallo-Roman military terminal.
Other monuments of interest, the Porte aux Diamants, the hamlet of the Lake, of medieval origin, and, in town, the new Saint-Thomas church in neo-Romanesque style, built in 1884 and the old dedicated church at the same saint, dating from the 17th century, which once housed a theater and has now been converted into a media library.
We must also mention the Récollets convent, built under Louis XIV, which after the Revolution will serve as barracks, prison, and finally college… The old conventual chapel, for its part, houses an art collection religious.
The Protestant temple of the 19th century, symbol of a peaceful religious practice, concludes this discovery of heritage, before joining Mount Toulon which overlooks the city and which was the site of fierce fighting in the 17th century. A congregation had three monumental crosses erected there and, more recently, a Pietà by sculptor Carlo Sarrabezolles was installed there directly on the rock (1955).
A route dedicated to the heritage of the city has been designed, marked out by 12 panels, or by following the sheets available at the tourist office. For more information, call +33 4 75 20 81 81.
For culture, the Jacques Dupin media library regularly schedules exhibitions, meetings or conferences with authors, as well as concerts and documentary film screenings. Information on +33 4 75 64 68 50.
As for the theater, which is undergoing restoration work and should reopen its doors at the end of 2021, its program is dedicated to all audiences, ranging from classics to so-called boulevard plays in through contemporary creations. Information on +33 4 75 64 93 39 or +33 4 75 64 62 00.
In terms of sports, bowling alley and pétanque grounds, skate park areas or even tennis courts (to be reserved on +33 4 75 64 55 30) are accessible to visitors. The modern Cap Azur aquatic center houses sports or initiation pools, fun equipment and also outdoor spaces. Price: from 4 and 5.50 euros. Contact on +33 4 28 70 25 38.
City gateway to the Regional Natural Park of the Monts d'Ardèche which programs a number of events (information on +33 4 75 36 38 60), Privas also has 32 hectares of communal forest and, with Mount Toulon, an accessible promenade from the center. Panoramic views of the city as of the Alps, in the distance, or the mountains of Ardèche, reward the courageous!
A number of hiking trails are also designed to take in, on foot or by bike, the surrounding countryside, some loops allowing for example to reach the right bank of the Rhône, others leading towards the summits of Vivarais… Maps and information on +33 4 75 20 81 81.