The Ibie valley, which stretches approximately 30 km, starts at the foot of the Coiron mountain at Villeneuve de Berg and ends where the Ardeche gorges and the Chauvet grotte meet at Vallon Pont d’Arc.

The Ibie river, runs the entire length of the valley, in many places there are rock pools for swimming, stone beaches and even a beautiful waterfall “le trou de la lune”. The landscape is that of the garrigue of southern France.

   
For the entire length of this wild but preserved valley different subtleties of colour can be seen, for example, not only that of oak woodlands, fields of lavanda, and cornfields but also of vineyards, the main economic activity of the valley (vin de pays des Coteaux de l’Ardeche).
   Wildlife is protected and thrives here: you may see a buzzard, a Bonellis eagle, a genet which belongs to the mongoose family, or even a beaver.

   
The village of Saint Maurice d’Ibie (180 inhabitants), where our gites are, fully exploits this exceptional site in the heart of this valley. It is the only village on the road between Villeneuve de Berg and Vallon Pont d’Arc (each of which is 12km away).
   It is well known for its unique quality of life, the untouched countryside ensures a peacefulness which is both relaxing and revitalizing and yet at the same time on the doorstep there are all the amenities, acitivities (daytime and nightime) and summer excitement of Villeneuve de Berg and Vallon Pont d’Arc.

  
Historically speaking , it is the church Saint Maurice which gives its name to the village. Severly damaged during the religious wars, it has still nevertheless its roman porch with its concentric arches, at the top of which is a carved keystone showing the monogram of Christ surrounded by a delicately carved twisted moulding. Inside the church one can see a domed ceiling decorated with primitive 19 Century scenes. It is listed as a historical monument.
The village is clustered around the village green, which is surrounded not only by a row of stone houses joined together but pretty little streets where there are typical houses of the region with patios and interieur courtyards which from the road you would not guess were there.

   
Two hamlets are linked to Saint Maurice d’Ibie:
Les Valades, a hamlet in woodlands whose 19 century buildings are today used for tourism,
And Les Salelles, the main hamlet, on the road towards the gorges, which has about 50 inhabitants. Despite the fact that many vaulted passages were destroyed during the 1930’s when the road was constructed the hamlet of Les Salelles still has many attractive features; restaured 19 Century houses with outside staircases, 2 bread ovens, ‘couradous’ (covered terrasses typical of the region) and vaulted passages.
In addition there are two childrens playgrounds, one on the village green and the other in Les Salelles.

   
If you leave the Ibie valley, you can discover not only the famous Pont d’Arc, the reconstruction of the Chauvet Grotte and the prehistoric caves, and the historical medieval town of Aubenas (20kms), but also the thermal station of Vals-les-Bains (32 kms) which is on the Ardeche plateau road (The Gerbier Joncs mountain and the source of the river Loire). In addition, close by is the Rhone valley, with Montelimar 30 kms away.