Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is a capital of prehistoric and cultural tourism. This small village, peaceful in wintertime, sees its population expand ten-fold in summer. Its tourist importance largely comes from the fact that it is the departure point for the river descent of the Gorges de l'Ardèche .GeographyVallon-Pont-d'Arc is situated at the threshold of one of the most beautiful tourist sites of France: "les gorges de l'Ardèche" . The famous Pont d'Arc, a natural arch of more than 30 metres height, carved out by the Ardèche and classified as a Great Site of France, gave it its name.1.8km southeast of the village, the River Ibie flows into the Ardèche, which forms all of the commune's southwestern border.History 1801: Saint-Martin-d'Arc renamed to Chames 1825: Chames renamed to Vallon 25 September 1948: Vallon becomes Vallon-Pont-d'ArcSights The Pont d'Arc The Chauvet Cave is not open to the public. An exposition site, copied from the cave, is open to the public so they can discover the oldest paleolithic paintings - 32.000 B.C. - and the lifestyle of the Cro-Magnon man The museum of the Chauvet Cave The town hall (a castle constructed in 1639 under Louis XIII) houses seven tapestries from Aubusson, showing the crusades, exhibited in the Hall of Honour The Gorges de l'Ardèche The Gorges de l'Archèche National Park Android tourism guide Domaine de Segries