Green Ardèche full steam ahead

Locomotive 414 and its colleagues which pull the dozen cars of Mastrou, the chemin de Fer du Vivarais, is a

sacred number!

It does not hesitate to attack slopes of declivity of 20 millimetres per metre (if that gives you absolutely no idea, go and see to appreciate the performance!), along a thirty three kilometres rail line for which it was necessary at the end of the 19^th century, to build twenty linear kilometres of retaining walls, eight viaducts and a tunnel to follow the steep slopes of the valley of the Doux (with one "x") and its wild nature.

The line which had lost its commercial importance, because of automobile development, has now regained its lustre thanks to the instigation railroad enthusiasts. From 1969, they have given back to the Chemin de Fer du Vivarais its tourist vocation.

Thanks to their strong conviction, they have also preserved one hundred and forty nine vehicles among which nine steam engines and thirty seven vehicles, classified Ancient monuments.

Mastrou can be a film actor! Shootings requiring locos of the 1900's are increasing. The Chemin de Fer du Vivarais had thus had two important roles in "Arsène Lupin", in 1963 with Jean-Claude Brialy; Roman Duris and Kristin Scott Thomas in 2003, in "Les enfants du Marais", with Jacques Villeret and in "Verlaine and Rimbaud", in 1995, with Leonardo Di Caprio, before he was famous all over the world thanks to his role in "Titanic". If we had known that!!!

Today Mastrou continues to read scenarios and take tourists for tours all summer long. Through the seas of broom, holm oaks, mulberry trees, and mills. One can travel in 1st, 2nd class or car-lounge, in one of the most important European tourist railroads.

At Lamastre, one can eat at "Relais du Mastrou", a station buffet as in former days, to savour dishes like the Ardéchois caillette which is proposed in a menu at eleven euros.

Recipe : Caillette ardéchoise