The Olive Tree, a tree of symbols and hope

The olive tree has been growing in Southern Ardèche () since the 12th century. There used to be 500,000 trees. Due to the big frost in 1956, many were replaced by vineyards and fruit trees. Most of the 36 olive oil mills closed. Nevertheless, since 1995, olive growing has been increasing with an average of 5,000 trees planted each year, without taking into account the restoration of old olive groves.

In two years, two new mills in Bourg-Saint-Andéol and Brès near Payzac () joined the last three ones which stayed open in Saint-Sauveur de Cruzières (), Les Vans and Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.

Nowadays, an average of 150 to 200 olive tons are pressed in Ardèche each season. More than twenty varieties grow in Ardèche and the main one is "Rougette". It may be chosen in the making of an AOC olive oil.

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# Vallon-Pont-d’Arc :
Exhibition, large photos, tastings, explanations on how to maintain an olive tree...

Information :
Vallon tourist office
Tel : +33 475 88 04 01 - Contact.

# Les Vans :
Walk in the land of the olive tree, visit of an olive oil mill, local products fair, Olive Brotherhood...

Information :
Les Vans tourist office
Tel: +33 475 37 24 48 - Email

# Discovery walks in the land of olive trees :
from Easter to September

Information:
Les Vans Tourist Office
Tel +33 475 37 24 48 - Email

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The domains are :

# Domaine la Magnanerie
Eric Martin
Hameau de Massargues
07150 Orgnac l’Aven
Tel +33 (0)6 74 11 57 45 – Contact

# The Verdalet olive oil mill - Domaine la Fontaine du Muletier ()
Mrs Florence Cheyrezy
Route de Brujas
07150 Bessas
Tel +33 (0)6 15 98 05 46 - Email

# The Pontet-Fronzèle Domain
Mrs Geneviève Berneau
Les Riailles
07150 Lagorce
Tel +33 (0)4 75 37 19 98

# The “Olivier de Vincent” and the “Table du Moulin” ()
Olivier de Vincent
Brès
07230 Payzac
Tel : +33 475 36 00 42

Multimedia:
A video about the Moulin de Vincent
Source: The Moulin de Vincent website

# Lou Mouli d’Oli ()
Ingrid and Olivier Pradal
Lou Mouli d’Oli – Domaine de la Souteyranne
07700 Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Tel +33 475 54 70 54 - mobile +33 616 38 61 92 - Email


Multimedia:
A video about Lou Moulin d’Oli
Source: Le Moulin d’Oli website

# Le Moulin des Gorges ()
Isabelle and André Bourdat
07150 Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
Tel +33 475 88 07 46 - Email

# Mr Froment’s mil ()
Mr Albert Froment
Les Vans
Tel +33 475 37 34 88 – Contact

# Mr Vezon – Miller at Saint-Sauveur de Cruzières ()
Mr Christian Vezon
07230 Saint-Sauveur-de-Cruzières
Tel +33 (0)4 75 39 60 31 - mobile +33 (0)6 11 60 29 46 - Email

Up

• Chestnut
• The Wines
• Mineral waters
• Beers and Pastis
• Delicatessen
• Meat
• Cheeses
• Expect the unexpected!
• What's for pudding ?
• Chocolate makers
• Gastronomy Ambassadors
• The Olive Tree