A ten-minute drive from Les Cabritas Sud-Ardèche, Labeaume is one of the most endearing villages of character in South Ardèche. Nestled against a cliff on the banks of the Beaume river, it stands out for its houses built partly into the rock, its cobbled "calade" lanes, and its hanging gardens clinging to the hillside since the 18th century. Long left off the main routes, the village has kept a rare authenticity, with shaded alleys, vaulted passageways and sweeping views over the clear waters of the Beaume.
A village built into the rock
Labeaume's houses lean directly against the limestone cliff overlooking the Beaume, some incorporating the bare rock into their walls or cellars — a semi-troglodyte style of building typical of South Ardèche. The old village is explored through a maze of narrow cobbled lanes and vaulted passageways climbing toward the church, while the terraced gardens, laid out on the heights from the 18th century onward, once relied on ingenious irrigation to grow fig trees, olives and vegetables on unforgiving soil.
The Beaume: swimming and strolling
Below the village, the Beaume river forms wide, shallow pools ideal for children, along with a few deeper spots for swimming, over a bed of pebbles and rocks that can be slippery. A waymarked path leads in about fifteen minutes to a viewpoint with a panoramic outlook over the village and surrounding gorges. Every summer, the "Labeaume en musiques" festival brings classical and baroque concerts to the riverbanks, in an exceptional natural acoustic setting.
Good to know before your visit
Allow about 10 minutes' drive from Les Cabritas Sud-Ardèche to reach Labeaume. The village is best explored on foot: parking is at the main car park at the village entrance (a fee applies in July-August), a short walk from the first cobbled lanes. Bring closed shoes for scrambling over the rocks of the Beaume, and book ahead if you'd like to attend a Labeaume en musiques concert in summer.
Practical information from Les Cabritas
- Distance from Saint-Alban-Auriolles: About a 10-minute drive
- Best time to visit: Year-round, concerts in July-August
- Ideal for: Heritage stroll, swimming, photography, music lovers
Want to discover Labeaume from your Ardèche gîte?
Les Cabritas Sud-Ardèche welcomes you in Saint-Alban-Auriolles, in the heart of Southern Ardèche, for a comfortable stay with a private pool, just steps from the region's most beautiful sites.
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