I enjoyed this journey in Ardèche: there are many interesting aspects: the arrival of new inhabitants, the biodiversity (water sources, rivers), the idealistic projets, the old motorcycles, buses and planes collectors, the Gallic village and Alain Reynaud and his space for circus artists.
During the 20 th century Ardèche has lost about one third of its population (because of the rural exodus) but since 20 years about 2.000 persons come to live in Ardèche each year; the postwoman Melyssandre Pouch from the North of France, Marie, the retiree from French Brittany, Isabelle Grasset, the sculptor from Paris and Kate and Nicolas , the opera singers from Australia.
About water sources Stéphane , the speleologist organizes excursions in a cave where the visitors can see an undergroung lake which provides water to a river. Besides Julien Rochette, a fishing guide, is promoting sustainable fishing, he shows the ecosystem to young fishermen and fisherwomen and when they fish they give back the fishes to the river.
About the idealistic projects we see the organic farm of Pierre Rabhi, the "Ardelaine Cooperative": the members are recovering fleeces of sheep or shearing sheeep and produce woolen mattresses and clothes and the renewal of the hamlet "Viel Audon", 16 famillies have restored the houses of this hamlet and live there now: they provide accomodation to visitors and organize "classes en nature" (school in the nature) showing how to live in harmony with the nature.
Ardèche is a land of collectors: Alain Froment has recovered old country motorcycles, Jacky Deblonde and the Association La Vanaude" are taking care for old buses ("Isobloc" and organizing bus tours, Ludovic Pascal is member of the Association Aero Retro, they take cafre for old airplanes (Morane 1932 for example).
Ín the forests of Ardèche Magalle and Benjamin Margotton are guides in the "Gallic village" showing to the visitors the daily life of the Gauls (theirs arms , their jewels and their music).
At Bourg-Saint Andéol the clown Alain Reynaud has created a space for the circus artists who can train there and later make rehearsals in public parks .
I enjoyed very the encounters of Sophie with Raphaël Pommier (the visit of the castle, the cellar, the canoeing at Vallon Pont D'Arc and the Cave of Saint-Marcel), with Christophe Mathon (the restoration of the castle of Saint-Montan), with Nicolas Bransolle the speleologist (Cave of Saint-Marcel) , with Benjamin Cleyet and Jean-Philippe Odouard (the hot air balloons in Annonay), with Grégory Couvert in Aubenas (the associative radio, the ice cream factory), with Cécile Dubois (Safari de Peaugres), with Arnaud Lievre in Jaunac (the tent in the meadow), with Virginie Alix in Saint-Joseh-des-Bancs (tasting "caillettes") and later with Denis Alix in Saint-Eulalie (the cows and goats farm near the "Gerbier du Jonc" and the source of the Loire River): very nice encounters with very kind Ardèche men and women.
During the 20 th century Ardèche has lost about one third of its population (because of the rural exodus) but since 20 years about 2.000 persons come to live in Ardèche each year; the postwoman Melyssandre Pouch from the North of France, Marie, the retiree from French Brittany, Isabelle Grasset, the sculptor from Paris and Kate and Nicolas , the opera singers from Australia.
About water sources Stéphane , the speleologist organizes excursions in a cave where the visitors can see an undergroung lake which provides water to a river. Besides Julien Rochette, a fishing guide, is promoting sustainable fishing, he shows the ecosystem to young fishermen and fisherwomen and when they fish they give back the fishes to the river.
About the idealistic projects we see the organic farm of Pierre Rabhi, the "Ardelaine Cooperative": the members are recovering fleeces of sheep or shearing sheeep and produce woolen mattresses and clothes and the renewal of the hamlet "Viel Audon", 16 famillies have restored the houses of this hamlet and live there now: they provide accomodation to visitors and organize "classes en nature" (school in the nature) showing how to live in harmony with the nature.
Ardèche is a land of collectors: Alain Froment has recovered old country motorcycles, Jacky Deblonde and the Association La Vanaude" are taking care for old buses ("Isobloc" and organizing bus tours, Ludovic Pascal is member of the Association Aero Retro, they take cafre for old airplanes (Morane 1932 for example).
Ín the forests of Ardèche Magalle and Benjamin Margotton are guides in the "Gallic village" showing to the visitors the daily life of the Gauls (theirs arms , their jewels and their music).
At Bourg-Saint Andéol the clown Alain Reynaud has created a space for the circus artists who can train there and later make rehearsals in public parks .
I enjoyed very the encounters of Sophie with Raphaël Pommier (the visit of the castle, the cellar, the canoeing at Vallon Pont D'Arc and the Cave of Saint-Marcel), with Christophe Mathon (the restoration of the castle of Saint-Montan), with Nicolas Bransolle the speleologist (Cave of Saint-Marcel) , with Benjamin Cleyet and Jean-Philippe Odouard (the hot air balloons in Annonay), with Grégory Couvert in Aubenas (the associative radio, the ice cream factory), with Cécile Dubois (Safari de Peaugres), with Arnaud Lievre in Jaunac (the tent in the meadow), with Virginie Alix in Saint-Joseh-des-Bancs (tasting "caillettes") and later with Denis Alix in Saint-Eulalie (the cows and goats farm near the "Gerbier du Jonc" and the source of the Loire River): very nice encounters with very kind Ardèche men and women.