The olive from the Cévennes d'Ardèche, cultivated since Antiquity, is an exceptional Mediterranean product. Its oil, known for its freshness and balance, reflects ancestral know-how. An authentic product, in the heart of a landscape shaped by history and passion.
An olive-growing heritage rooted for centuries
In the south of the Cévennes d'Ardèche, the olive tree stands out as a emblem of Mediterranean heritage. Present since Antiquity, it has shaped the landscapes and punctuated the lives of the inhabitants. Traces of Oil presses and amphorae Discoveries during archaeological excavations bear witness to this thousand-year-old history.
From the Middle Ages, olive oil became a real currency of exchange, then the culture experienced a significant decline after the catastrophic frost of 1956. But Ardèche olive growing was reborn in the 1990s thanks to the passion of local producers who replanted endemic varieties, starting with the Red mullet from Ardèche.
An olive grove rooted in a unique terroir
It is in a golden triangle formed by Aubenas, Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche and Les Vans that the Ardèche olive tree flourishes fully. This mild Mediterranean climate, combined with limestone soils and sun-drenched terraces, offers an ideal setting for olive growing.
This territory has more than 35 traditional varieties, including some emblematic ones like the Blanche de Payzac, Aubenc, Négrette and RougetteEach one expresses a unique aromatic typicity, oscillating between ripe fruits, fresh almond, herbaceous notes and slight bitterness, making the olive oil from the Cévennes d'Ardèche an exceptional product.
From harvest to tasting: a gourmet invitation
Every year, from November to December, the olive harvest sets the rhythm of life in the olive groves in the Cévennes d'Ardèche. The fruits are then brought to traditional mills such as the Wheat Mill to the Vans or the Vincent's Mill in Payzac, where they are pressed using ancestral know-how.
This artisanal process gives birth to a high quality extra virgin olive oil, known for its aromatic freshness and taste balance. In addition, producers offer table olives, homemade tapenade or alternatively olive oil based cosmetics, highlighting all the richness of this precious fruit.
Visitors are invited to enter the mills to take part in guided tours, commented tastings and even gourmet workshops, meeting passionate producers.
A sector committed to promoting its region
United under the banner of Southern Ardèche Olive Growers Union (SOAM), producers are actively working to obtain a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)This approach aims to guarantee the authenticity and quality of local productions, while protecting the ancestral know-how linked to this unique terroir.
Collective actions are carried out to preserve local biodiversity, promote old varieties and encourage the transmission of this living heritage to future generations.
By tasting an olive oil from the Cévennes d'Ardèche, you are savouring much more than a simple local product: you are immersing yourself in a human story, a landscape shaped by the hand of man and a Mediterranean way of life, typical of this territory between the Cévennes and the scrubland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a PGI for Ardèche olives?
There is not yet a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for the Ardèche olive, but the Southern Ardèche Olive Growers Union (SOAM), and producers are actively working on it.
Where can you buy olive oil from the Cévennes d'Ardèche?
You can buy olive oil directly from producers or at the many markets in the region.
How many varieties of olives are there?
Ardèche counts 35 traditional varieties of olives.
When can olives be harvested?
In the Cévennes d'Ardèche, the olive harvest takes place between November and December from the first frost.
Where can olive oil be made?
The olives are taken to the mill to be pressed and their oil extracted.
Is there a festival dedicated to the olive?
The new oil festival is organized by the Friends of the Olive Tree of the Pays des Vans.
Is there a trail dedicated to olives?
Yes, you can discover the olive tree trail in St-Genêt-de-Bauzon.
