25½ m. S.W. from Teil, 8 m. S.W. from Vogué, and 36½ m. N.E. of Alais, is [Ruoms]. Station for Largentière, 9 m. N., 1¼ fr. For Joyeuse, 8 m. W., and for Vallon, 6¼ m. S. [Largentière], pop. 3000. Hotels: Europe; France. Coaches to Joyeuse, Les Vans, and St. Ambroix. St. Ambroix, pop. 5000, on the Cèze, H. Luxembourg, is a town with silk-mills and glass-works. Near Ambroix is Robiac, station for Besseges, with important coal-fields. Largentière, or properly L’Argentière, situated in the ravine of the Ligne, derives its name from the argentiferous mines in the neighbourhood. On the tableland behind the Palais-de-Justice is the picturesque village of Chassiers, pop. 1300. Joyeuse, pop. 2300. Inns: H. Nord; Europe. Situated with its suburb, Rosières, on the Baume. The town has part
of its ancient ramparts, and the castle which belonged to the Sires de Joyeuse. In the church the chapel to the right of the choir contains an Annunciation, with the arms of the family of Joyeuse.
The town of Ruoms, pop. 1300, has an interesting church, and a considerable part of its old walls, towers, and gates.
Pont d’Arc.
[ VALLON TO THE PONT D’ARC.]
([Map, p. 56].)
One hour from Ruoms station by omnibus is [Vallon], pop. 2500. Inns: *H. du Louvre; Luxembourg; Temple Protestant. From Vallon the [Pont d’Arc] is 75 minutes distant by the stony road over the hill, which, as far as the shoulder of the last ridge, is also the road to the caves. A boat from Vallon to the Pont costs 10 frs.; to St. Martin it costs 35 frs., time 7 hrs. St. Martin is 3 m. from the railway station of [St. Just], on the railway on the west side of the Rhône (see p. 98). The landlord of the Louvre can procure either a guide for the Pont, 2 frs., or for the caves, 5 frs., or the boatman for sailing down the Ardèche. The Pont d’Arc is a natural bridge across the Ardèche, composed of a calcareous rock, pierced with a span of 180 ft., through which the river flows majestically. The soffit of the arch is 100 ft. high, but the total height of the parapet is 230 ft., and 48 thick. There are several rocks similar to this in France, but this one is unrivalled in size, and in the beauty and grandeur of the surrounding scenery. A lovely little plain, covered with vines, peach and mulberry trees, is enclosed by the circle of vertical cliffs 500 ft. high, which at one part extend over the river. In these cliffs are great stalactite caves, approached by iron ladders from the top. One of them is 490 ft. long and 100 ft. high. Vallon is famous for black truffles, honey, and chestnuts. Pigs are used for finding the truffles. They are better than dogs, because they are not so apt to be carried off by other scents, as, for example, when a hare or a partridge suddenly appears upon the scene. (See under Carpentras, [page 54].)
LYONS
NÎMES 102½ 69½ [VIVIERS], pop. 3300. Inn: Louvre. The station and the new town are along the road parallel to the Rhône: the old town with the cathedral is on the hill behind. The streets are narrow, crooked, and steep. Here, along the W. side of the Rhône, are lofty limestone cliffs, the quarrying and preparing of which forms the principal industry of the place. Coach to Aps, 8 m. N.W. on the Teil and Alais railway, passing St. Thomé, pop. 600, at the junction of the Nègue with the Escoutay, which flows through a deep ravine. Omnibus to Châteauneuf, on the opposite or east side of the Rhône.
Bourg-St. Andeol. St. Just.
LYONS
NÎMES 109½ 62½ [BOURG-ST. ANDEOL], pop. 4500. Hotels: Luxembourg; Europe; their omnibuses await passengers. Omnibus also for Pierrelatte ([page 50]), on the opposite or E. side of the Rhône. Le Bourg has handsome quays alongside the Rhône, a church founded in the