Coux is a commune in the Ardèche department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a few kilometers east of Privas which it borders.
Its 12 km² territory ranges from 170 to 807 m in altitude, crossed by the course of the Ouvèze (a tributary of the Rhône). Bordered by hills overlooking the river, it has remained very green, covered with forests (51% of its area), various natural environments (20%) and agricultural areas.
The town developed from the year 1000 and has retained a picturesque medieval character, in a meander of the Ouvèze.
The locality has also been able to preserve certain testimonies of its past (mills, mulberry trees and silk factories).
The heritage of character of the village and the "nature" leisure offer of Coux (which has nearly 1700 inhabitants) are certainly to be taken into account during a stay in the region, near Aubenas and the Rhone Valley...
In terms of heritage, before discovering the charms of the town, the church of Saint-Pierre de Lubilhac, to the east, now isolated but within private property, is worth a look. The Romanesque building dates from the 11th century and was originally owned by the Abbey of Saint-Chaffre. The church was abandoned in the 16th century, during the Wars of Religion, and therefore became an agricultural building. It was not until the 1990s that restoration work began, which earned it its inclusion in the Inventory. With a plan in the shape of a Latin cross, it has regained its exterior sandstone cladding, and a dome is integrated into its covering. Inside, an old stately chapel in the Gothic style with crossed ogives is worth mentioning. In addition, the portal has also been redone, and stained glass windows were installed in 2011, by the master Gérard Garouste. The church retains a number of objects classified as objects (altar, processional cross, pieces of furniture, statues, paintings).
Then head for the village, where stands the church of L'Immaculée-Conception, erected in the 17th century. The narrow streets (we speak here of "calades" because they are paved with pebbles from the bed of the river), the old gates (14th century) of the small town which was then a fortified outpost, dwellings from the 17th and 18th centuries along the main street, a former hospital, called "Souche de Cheminée" (first third of the 16th century): these are all elements that make up the charm of the village, which should soon benefit from the "city of character" label.
Worth seeing again, the bridge over the Ouvèze reworked from the 17th century (that is to say its ancient origins), listed in the Inventory, but also the "Bacha": a basin fitted out near a spring before the First World War, with a utilitarian vocation, but which also became a symbol of a local custom… The newlyweds came to kiss there on the wedding day to ensure a lasting union…
Along the river, the mill de la Mataudée originally dedicated to the milling of silk then converted to milling production in the 19th century has been enhanced by the town and its volunteers. Restored, it was eventually to house a bakery museum.
In another genre, to the northeast of the town, several paths lead to the Jauberine caves which served as a refuge for the population during the Wars of Religion. It is also in this place that the circular slabs were extracted which were to serve as millstones for the mills on the Ouvèze.
Another reflection of the past, the terraces laid out over the centuries for crops, dominating the village, the river and the road linking Aubenas to Loriol (Rhône valley).
This part of local history can still be found in different places in the village where parts and old agricultural machinery of yesteryear are exhibited, bequeathed to the municipality by former collectors farmers, who thus make up an open-air agricultural museum.. Information at the town hall on +33 4 75 64 22 04.
On the cultural side, the municipal festival hall, "Lou Fabricou", hosts shows and association events throughout the year: inquire at +33 4 75 64 46 09.
As far as "nature" leisure activities are concerned, for thrill seekers of all ages, the Indian Forest centre, in the northwest of the territory, has 13 tree climbing courses dotted with 110 workshops for all levels, and two giant zip lines 250 m long! Open every day during school holidays. Price: from 10 to 19 euros. Information on +33 6 16 75 74 34 or +33 4 75 64 10 10.
All that remains is to take advantage of the many hiking trails traced in the town or crossing it, following the banks of the Ouvèze or reaching the nearby peaks covered in forest. Secure routes also link Coux to Privas, and even to the Rhône Valley where the ViaRhôna routes lead from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean! Unequaled potential for cyclists! Maps and information for hikers from the Aubenas urban area tourist office on +33 4 75 20 81 81.
