In the commune
The Lez and the Pont au Jas
The river runs through the commune and forms clear pools, cold even in August. The Pont au Jas stretch is the best known.
No facilities, no supervision. Water shoes are advisable: the pebbles are slippery.
The Lez runs down in the valley: the river crosses the commune and forms several natural pools where people cool off in summer, notably around the Pont au Jas.
Let us be clear: none of these places has facilities or supervision. You swim at your own risk, as you do in any river. Check the depth before you jump, watch out for storms upstream, and do not leave children alone at the water's edge.
Everything you can do, from river pool to descent
July and August
The Pas des Ondes
In the commune of Cornillon-sur-l'Oule, in the Oule valley. It is the only supervised bathing site in the area, in July and August.
Rock pools, waterfalls you can reach on foot and a stream for paddling. Check this year's supervision dates and hours before you go: they change every season.
April to September
Canoeing on the Drôme
Canoë Drôme at Saillans, 760 route de Crest — 04 75 40 60 60. Base open from April to September, with a second base at Aouste-sur-Sye.
Also Drôme Aventure at Die, 06 79 37 18 38. The Saillans tourist office keeps details of the other bases, 04 75 21 51 05.
Why water really matters here
Because it gets hot. The Drôme provençale has dry summers and sultry afternoons. Knowing where to cool off is not a detail of the holiday, it is what decides the day between June and September.
And because water is scarce. The Lez is a Mediterranean river: its flow drops sharply in August, some pools shrink, and drought orders can restrict what you may do. What you see in a photograph taken in June is not what you will find on 15 August.
The good news: you have three options at different altitudes — the pools of the Lez a few kilometres away, the Oule valley higher up, where the water stays cold for longer, and the supervised pools at Nyons when the river is too low.
- The Lez, Pont au Jas natural pools, unsupervised
- The Drôme at Saillans canoeing from April to September
- The Pas des Ondes, Cornillon-sur-l'Oule supervised in July and August
- The Eygues at Nyons several spots, unsupervised
- Nyonsoleïado swimming centre Nyons · 04 75 26 06 92
- Ardèche gorges a day's descent
Advice and local resources
Five rules to avoid a bad day
Look at the sky upstream, not above your head. A storm over the Lance can raise the Lez within an hour while the weather is still fine at the water's edge.
Never jump into a pool without checking the bottom. Floods move the boulders from one year to the next.
Water shoes. Slippery pebbles, splinters of limestone, and sometimes broken glass near the road access points.
Take your rubbish away with you. None of these sites has a bin or a warden.
Respect local restrictions. In drought conditions, swimming and taking water can be restricted: the notices are posted at the town hall.
| Where | What it is | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Nyonsoleïado swimming centre Promenade de la digue, 26110 Nyons. Supervised pools, the answer on days when the river is too low or too cold. | Nyons | 04 75 26 06 92 |
| Canoë Drôme 760 route de Crest, 26340 Saillans. Open April to September. Second base at Aouste-sur-Sye, by booking in July and August. | Saillans | 04 75 40 60 60 |
| L'Arche de Noé · ABC Canoë Ardèche gorges, starting from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. Descents from half a day to two days with a bivouac. | Vallon-Pont-d'Arc | 04 75 88 00 34 04 75 88 04 36 |
How far from the farm
- The Lez, Pont au Jas down in the valley, in the commune
- The Drôme at Saillans Drôme valley, to the north
- Nyons and the Eygues 24 min by road
- Nyons swimming centre 24 min
- The Pas des Ondes Oule valley, beyond Nyons
- Ardèche gorges the other side of the Rhône valley
Contact details and information checked in August 2026. Providers change their number, their season and their prices: call before you drive out. If you spot a mistake, tell Corine and we will correct it.
All of it on one map
The map we keep up to date: the farm, the cliff, the trailheads, the bathing spots, the canoe bases and every provider named on these pages.
The activities around the farm
The map is supplied by Google. It only loads once you click, so that no cookie is set without your consent.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you swim near the cottage?
- The Lez runs through the commune and forms natural pools where people cool off in summer, notably around the Pont au Jas. None of these sites is laid out or supervised: you swim at your own risk, as you do in any river. There is no swimming pool at the farm.
- Where can you find supervised bathing?
- At the Pas des Ondes, in the commune of Cornillon-sur-l'Oule, in the Oule valley: it is the only supervised bathing site in the area, in July and August. The dates and hours change every year, so check them before you set off. The Nyonsoleïado swimming centre at Nyons is open more widely.
- Where can you go canoeing from the cottage?
- On the Drôme, with Canoë Drôme at Saillans on 04 75 40 60 60, open from April to September, or Drôme Aventure at Die on 06 79 37 18 38. In the Ardèche gorges, starting from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, with L'Arche de Noé on 04 75 88 00 34 or ABC Canoë on 04 75 88 04 36.
- Is the river cold in high summer?
- Yes, the Lez stays cold even in August, but its flow drops sharply late in the summer and some pools shrink. In drought conditions, prefectural orders can restrict the use of water: the notices are posted at the town hall.
- Can you swim with a dog?
- Nothing forbids it in the pools of the Lez, which are neither laid out nor supervised. Supervised bathing sites and swimming centres, on the other hand, do not admit animals. The cottages accept one pet per stay.