ARDECHE, a department of France at the Cevenol edge of the Plateau Central bounded, east, by the river Rhone, south by Gard, south-west by Lozere, north-west, by Haute Loire and Loire. Area 2,145sq. miles. Pop. (1931), 282,911, marking a con siderable decline during the 2oth century. It was formed in 1790 from the Vivarais district of Languedoc. It is a hill country marked by valleys most of which run either north-west-south-east or south west-north-east. The high volcanic mass of the Coirons stretches south-east-north-west to the eastern part of the larger volcanic area of Velay, where Mt. Mezenc (5,755ft.), itself a volcanic mass, forms the culminating point of the department; thence the Mts. du Vivarais stretch north-eastward with the departmental boundary along their heights. The department stretches west ward to the uppermost Loire and the Allier forms a good deal of its boundary over against Lozere. The rivers are mostly torrential, with sudden floods and much of the scenery is wild.
In the south near the Rhone the climate is warm, but on the higher land winter is long and severe and even in summer sudden cold may occur. Grain (wheat and rye) and potatoes are culti vated, also the vine and olive near the Rhone in the south, the department's southern and more open lands marking the northern limit of cultivation of the olive in the Rhone valley. The vine yards of St. Peray near the Rhone in the northern part of the department are famous for white wines. Chestnut, walnut and mulberry, the last for silkworms, are widely grown. The rocky hills are useful for goats as well as for sheep and their skins promote a glove-making industry. There are also paper factories at Annonay. Hydraulic lime is produced from quarries at Le Teil and there are supplies of coal, iron, lead and zinc. Medicinal springs are numerous and some are hot; the chief are at Vals les Bains (cold), St. Laurent les Bains, Celles, Neyrac, etc.
Ardeche is served by the P.L.M. railway and has 43 miles of navigable river. The towns of Privas, Largentiere (capital of the department) and Tournon give their names to the three arrondisse ments; there are 31 cantons and 342 communes. The depart ment forms the diocese of Viviers in the archbishopric of Avig non; it is in the region of the Army Corps, in the academie (educational area) of Grenoble, and under the court of appeal at Nimes.
Privas was destroyed in the 17th century religious quarrels, so it has little that is older, but there are many interesting Ro manesque churches in the department (Bourg St. Andeol, Thines, Maas, Cruas), while Mazan has a large church once part of a great abbey. Viviers cathedral is set on a rock above the town.