About 30 minutes drive from the campsite, in the north of the Ardèche Department, and just 4 km from the town of Tournon sur Rhône, you will find an essential activity to do in this region: The Train of Ardèche.
It follows the gorge of the Doux River (a tributary of the right bank of the Rhone) from Boucieu-Le-Roi since the creation of the railway line Vivarais in 1891. Classified "Historic Monument" in 1903, the line was then restored in 2013 by the "Vivarais Railway" workshop based in Lamastre.
Passengers embark on scenic cars that allow them to discover the most inaccessible part of the Doux Gorge thanks to two different excursions:
- The Gorges Train is a half-day excursion whose journey time is approximately 1h15 round trip. The train takes the most concave and picturesque part of the Gorges du Doux, and then, at Colombier le Vieux station, the steam locomotive is returned on a swing bridge before being replaced at the head of the convoy thanks to two men and the strength of their arms.
- For more than 120 years, the Mastrou is a day trip whose journey time is about 3:15 round trip. For the 28 km climb up to Lamastre, the steam train from the Tournon Saint Jean station replenishes the water at Boucieu Le Roi. The arrival is scheduled before 12am on Lamastre, where you can discover the bustling market that attracts the entire region on Tuesday. Three hours of free time will then allow you to visit the city and enjoy its many restaurants before heading back to the station of Tournon Saint Jean.
Heritage tours are also available to allow you to have the privilege of accessing the exceptional railway heritage of the network (discovery of the operation of a steam train and Mallet locomotives).