Travel Guide Lamastre

It is one of the gateways to the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Nature Park. Historically, Lamastre was a trading center with famous fairs. Today, it's a tourist resort where you can enjoy both gastronomy and the tradition of cabinet-making. The village is home to several 10th-century monuments: the magnificent Romanesque church and priory, the ruins of the Retourtour and Pécheylard castles... The Seignobos park in the village center is an oasis of nature, with magnificent, rare trees over a hundred years old, making it a shady place to enjoy the greenery, coolness and calm. The bronze bust of Charles Seignobos (1854-1942), a famous historian and native of the region, can be seen here. In Lamastre, the atmosphere changes from that prevailing in the Ardèche mountains, becoming distinctly southern. You can enjoy a drink on the terrace of one of the many bistros lining the square, in the shade of the plane trees lining the colorful facades. Lamastre benefits from a microclimate with neither strong winds nor excessively cold temperatures, and offers magnificent landscapes with ancient terraced farming and beautiful scattered farms and hamlets. Walks in the forest or along the banks of the Doux river reveal exceptional natural treasures: thousand-year-old chestnut trees, European beaver sites and a remarkable fish population. At the crossroads of roads, cycle paths and footpaths, Lamastre is particularly lively in summer thanks to its two markets, and the area is a favorite with motorcyclists, who can easily find their way around.