What to do in the Ardèche in November 2026,
the events calendar

The November 2026 calendar

Weekend of 6 – 8 November

Dates	Event	From the Mas
6 – 7 Nov	International Marathon of the Ardèche Gorges (canoe & kayak), Vallon-Pont-d’Arc	≈ 40 min
7 – 8 Nov	Last Castagnades chestnut festival, Joannas	≈ 40 min

Weekend of 14 – 15 November

Dates	Event	From the Mas
14 – 15 Nov	Advent market, Lavilledieu	≈ 10 min
15 Nov	Village fair, Christmas market and chestnut roast, Saint-Étienne-de-Fontbellon	≈ 20 min
14 Nov	50 years of the Ardèche Geological Society, Château de Rochemure, Jaujac	≈ 30 min

Week of 16 – 22 November

Dates	Event	From the Mas
Until 20 Nov	Paroles en Festival (storytelling, in French), Aubenas, Privas, Villeneuve-de-Berg	≈ 15 – 30 min
21 Nov, 8 pm	Benjamin Biolay in concert, Théâtre de Privas	≈ 30 min

Weekend of 28 – 29 November

The first big weekend of Christmas markets: Lentillères, Grospierres, Le Pouzin, Vagnas, and across the Rhône, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and the medieval market at Taulignan. The details are in our 2026 Christmas markets calendar.

Driving times are approximate, from the Mas in Lussas. Dates are those announced by the organisers: check times and venues with them or the tourist office before setting off.

The Gorges Marathon: 35 km by canoe

Despite the name, nobody runs. The International Marathon of the Ardèche Gorges, now in its 42^nd edition, is a canoe and kayak race of about 35 km, from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc to Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, through the nature reserve. Watching the boats pass beneath the Pont d’Arc is worth the trip, even if you have never held a paddle.

The end of the Castagnades

The Castagnades of the Monts d’Ardèche began on 10 October in Saint-Pierreville and close in Joannas on 7 and 8 November. The 2026 edition also marks 20 years of the Ardèche chestnut’s protected designation of origin: roast chestnuts, local producers, music, free entry. We wrote about it in chestnut season.

50 years of the Geological Society

On 14 November, the Ardèche Geological Society celebrates its fiftieth year at the Château de Rochemure in Jaujac, home of the Monts d’Ardèche Geopark: guided tours of the rock collection and of the exhibition “Changer d’Ère”. As part of the same anniversary, a free talk at the Château de Castrevieille tells how life recovered in the Ardèche after the great extinction at the end of the Permian. If you have walked the basalt flows of the Coiron plateau, this is the natural next step.

Benjamin Biolay in Privas

On Saturday 21 November at 8 pm, Benjamin Biolay, one of the great voices of French chanson, plays the Théâtre de Privas, half an hour from the Mas. An intimate venue: book your seats before you travel.

November, off the calendar

The rest of the time, November is lived slowly. The days are cool and often bright on the plateaus, the evenings cold. It is the best moment to walk the Coiron trails, look for dolmens in the bare woods, or wander through stone villages where you only meet the people who live there.

The wines suit the season too: in Ruoms, about half an hour away, Néovinum, the Ardèche winegrowers’ cellar, stays open all winter and runs tasting sessions. And back at the house, it is warm, with the candles lit in the sitting room.

A November weekend at the Mas

November is the month for the reunions you have been putting off since summer: university friends, siblings with their children, a birthday to celebrate before the rush of the festive season. The Mas lends itself to weekends like these. Eight suites, one long table for fifteen, several sitting rooms so everyone finds their corner. Saturday at the Privas concert or the Advent market, in the evening a dinner cooked by a chef at the house, Sunday with no alarm.

From November to March, outside French school holidays, the Mas is on low-season rates: €860 a night for the whole house, which is under €60 per person for fifteen guests. Details are on the rates and availability page.

And for teams

November is also when the coming year gets planned: a leadership team taking stock, a team meeting away from the office. The Mas can be booked exclusively midweek too. Everything is on the events and retreats page.

Your questions about the Ardèche in November

What is on in the Ardèche in November 2026?

The month opens with the Gorges canoe marathon (6–7 November) and the last Castagnades festival in Joannas (7–8 November). Then come the Geological Society’s 50th anniversary in Jaujac (14 November), the Lavilledieu Advent market (14–15 November), Benjamin Biolay in Privas (21 November) and the first Christmas markets at the end of the month.

Is the Gorges Marathon a running race?

No, it is a canoe and kayak race of about 35 km, from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc to Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche. You can watch from the riverbanks near the Pont d’Arc.

What is the weather like in November?

Cool and changeable: around 10 °C on average in the south of the département, often with bright days on the plateaus and cold evenings. A good month for walking, with a warm layer in your bag.

Where can a group stay in November?

Le Mas de Louise is an 8-suite family house in Lussas, at the foot of the Coiron plateau. It is rented exclusively, for up to 15 guests, from 2 nights. Privas, Jaujac, Lavilledieu and Aubenas are all within 30 minutes’ drive.

To plan your stay, see our availability and rates, or contact Louise directly.