About Banne …

Imagine a small village on the edge of the Cevennes, in the canton of Vans, tickling the Païolive woods, imagine a typical village in southern Ardeche whose limestone peaks suggest the shape of a horn …

Banne take its origin from the bano dialect which means horn. But could just as easily come from the Gallo-Roman name of a lord named Arnaud de Banne. Or, a more fanciful version, the assumption that resident manufacturers wicker basket would have given its name to their village.

This medieval village is built around its church and its castle, connected by narrow cobblestone streets lined with old houses. In this maze of cobbled streets, one can discover houses hidden beneath the castle ruins.The castle located at 307 meters offers stunning views of Lower Vivarais: Malarce hidden behind the trees, St. Pierre le Déchausselat perched in the mountains and surrounded by chestnut trees, St.Jean de Pourcharesse and its bell tower. One can also behold the massive Tanargue, the hills of Payzac and Planzolles, St. Andrée Lachamp, the Tower of Brison and Champ du Cros. And further, the church of Chassiers, the tower of Tauriers, the canyon of Montreal with, in the background, Gourdon and the Escrinet.

It is from the castle that the view on the Païolive woods is the best. Legends lovers, make sure you go there. This supernaturallike forest with its small oak trees, offers a singular setting where time has carved the rocks, leaving white cracks which create magnificent mineral sculptures. 16 square kilometers wide, the Païolive woods look like a wonderful maze of limestone and vegetals. The perfect place to unleash your imagination and look for signs of the bear and the lion, the head of a pig, the bridge of the  fairies …