Ucel is a town in the department of Ardèche, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 5 km north of Aubenas which it borders.
Its 5.5 km² territory ranges from 200 to 450 m above sea level, located mainly on the left bank of the course of the Ardèche, between the plateau and the Vivarais mountains.
The locality is made up of several entities: the Pont d'Ucel in the south, which developed with the textile industry powered by the hydraulic energy of the watercourse (mills) and the old Ucel in the north, on a height dominating the river.
Nowadays, half of the municipal area is urbanized and the other half is covered with forests.
A powerful seigniory from the 9th century, Ucel was first renowned for its wealth from the silver mines, but in the 18th century, it was for its know-how in the production of silk that the locality acquired a national fame. In 1752, a royal silk spinning and reeling factory was created. Soon follows the establishment of a training school in the most modern techniques. This activity will continue until the 1980s.
Nowadays, in the heart of southern Ardèche, the town (about 2000 inhabitants) highlights its heritage and its natural resources. Its leisure offer linked to the river and its wooded countryside deserves attention.
In terms of heritage, the industrial past is reflected in various sites concentrated in the Pont d'Ucel district. On the course of the Ardèche, are thus still visible old dams and béalières (canals) which fed the milling. As for the buildings of the royal factory, they have been restored and now house the offices of the community of communes.
Also worth mentioning are the parish church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens in the town, which has been remodeled several times, the modest but picturesque chapel of the Travelers, recently restored, the ruins of the seigniorial castle (11th century) which dominate the city and ravaged by the troops of the Count of Toulouse in 1213.
At the level of the old village, crossed by narrow and steep streets, it is a 15th century hermitage that is worth a look. A monk still occupies it. It serves a rare partly troglodyte chapel in the Gothic style. It is protected as a historical monument.
In terms of culture, shows and community events are regularly scheduled at the Salle Deydier. Information on +33 4 75 35 31 46.
As regards sports and leisure, a permanent orienteering course has been set up at the Pont d'Ucel, on the banks of the river, which offers in a green setting paths marked and adapted according to the levels. Information on +33 4 75 89 02 03.
In summer, it is possible to swim or at least cool off in the river and its tributary the Saudron (which descends from the plateau between the two poles of Ucel). Both rivers are rich in "gours", in other words water holes formed in the rock.
Finally, the locality offers hiking enthusiasts a very rich potential.
Walkers have a number of marked trails at their disposal which go up from the Pont d'Urcel or the old village towards the wooded hills (pines). These loops are dotted with panoramic viewpoints, such as at the Rocher des Combes where an orientation table has been set up. To the north-east of the town, the UNESCO-certified geosite of Sartre has another surprise in store: some 300 fossilized dinosaur footprints dating back 220 million years have been discovered there. Weighing up to 3 tons, with 3 or 4 fingers, these dinosaurs were several meters long. The site is marked out and laid out (platform, information panels). It is freely accessible all year round but it is obviously necessary to respect the instructions (in order not to weaken the fossils). Information from the Regional Natural Park of the Monts d'Ardèche (of which the town is a member) and which also offers thematic hikes, exhibitions, workshops on the territory: contact on +33 4 75 36 38 60.
More than a hundred kilometers routes dedicated to mountain biking are also accessible from Ucel, where a departure base has been set up, obviously including incursions into Aubenas and other neighboring localities. In addition, along the Ardèche river, a soft route is about to be developed and linked to the Via Ardèche, which constitutes a potential of several tens of kilometers of secure track (linked to other networks, including in the Rhône Valley).
For hiking and mountain biking, maps and information on +33 4 75 89 02 03.
