La Ferme des Abeilles

Enter La Ferme des Abeilles and enjoy a unique, authentic and gourmet experience!
Beekeepers Elodie, Nicolas and their team welcome you to an imposing stone farmhouse in the heart of the southern Ardèche, just a few kilometers from the Pont d'Arc and the Ardèche Gorges.
Discover their passion for bees on their farm, dedicated entirely to beekeeping, and travel to the heart of the hives and colonies.
- Guided tour of the Honey Factory: Discover a fascinating profession, from raising bees to harvesting, extracting and packaging the precious nectar.
- Tasty stopover: A moment of conviviality and sharing during a commented tasting session. Taste and appreciate the subtleties of each Ardèche honey from their production.
- Galerie des Ruches: In the coolness of a vaulted room, take the time to observe the life of bees at the heart of the colony, without the risk of stings. In this space, the hives are fully glazed, allowing you to contemplate the intimate life of the bees.
- 5 captivating films: Enter into the daily life of their farm. The 4 films made on the farm reveal the diversity of the Ardèche landscape, the behind-the-scenes aspects of their operation and the complexities of bee and queen rearing. The last film takes you on a journey with exceptional cliffside images of honey gatherers in Nepal, shot by Ardèche photographer Eric Tourneret.
- Breathtaking photo exhibition “Le Génie des Abeilles” (The Genius of Bees) by Eric Tourneret: Impressive photos on display in the heart of the farm, showing the life of bees and the latest scientific knowledge of how colonies function.
- La Cire d'abeille (Beeswax): An animation organized around the precious wax in their workshop and its various uses on the farm: candles, frames, cosmetics, encaustics...
- La Ruchette Vitrée: A fun and educational activity focusing on the astonishing organization and secrets of bees. Contemplate the beauty, diversity and collective intelligence of a bee colony. And if you look hard enough, you'll find the queen bee!
- Apiculture Baptisms (by reservation only, ages 7 and up): Experience a privileged moment of total immersion! Put on a wetsuit and let us guide you into a shady apiary. Young and old alike will be charmed by the courage and beauty of thousands of bees.
- Boutique de la Ferme: You'll find all their Ardèche honey and honey-based products: nougats, shortbread, soaps, sweets, all made with Ardèche honey from the farm and processed by the best local artisans. You'll also find a bookshop for young and old, as well as beeswax candles and gift sets.
- On-site catering: For the convenience of visitors, fresh drinks and ice creams from local Ardèche producers are available, as well as delicious picnic baskets containing quality products from our Ardèche producers, to be enjoyed on site.
- Picnic area in the heart of nature: Tables in the shade of the pine trees are available for a relaxing lunch.
Elodie and Nicolas have been passionate about the world of bees for over 15 years, and would like to share this passion with their team and visitors through the Ferme des Abeilles, a place entirely dedicated to bees and beekeeping. Their farm, Les Ruchers de l'Ibie, has 450 colonies of bees producing honey in various locations in the Ardèche. Here we take a unique behind-the-scenes look at their bee farm.