A former Huguenot capital in the 16th and 17th centuries, now Prefecture of the Ardèche and also a gateway town to the Ardèche Mountains Regional Nature Park, Privas is famous for its chestnut purée and candied chestnuts, which have earned it the label of "remarkable site of taste".
In the course of an amble through this quiet little town you can explore its squares, its shopping streets, and reminders of the past such as the Diane de Poitiers Tower from the 15th century, in the Renaissance style. There is plenty of heritage to be enjoyed along the historic trail, which is marked out with 24 information boards. Then take a break to have a drink on one of Privas' café terraces, before climbing to the Montoulon site, where three crosses stand along with a sculpted Pietà, and where you can delight in a superb view over the town's roofs and the Ardèche Mountains.
Another sight to see, on the picturesque banks of the Ouvèze, is the remarkable Louis XIII bridge, which is a listed historic monument.
