
The flooding that hit the Ardèche river catchment* on 23 September 1890 still strikes a chord as the rive’s record flood. Gorged with continuous rainfall that began in the evening of 19 September, it reached a peak on the 22.
After a brief lull, the rain returned in the night of the 23rd and swamped the North Vivarais
The whole Department was affected, including the Eyrieux river valley. Henry Vaschalde, a weather watcher at Vals-les-Bains recorded many accounts referring to some fifty victims, extensive damage to crops and no less than
28 bridges destroyed in the Ardèche river valley.

Source: gallica.bnf.fr/ National Library of France.

Source: gallica.bnf.fr/ National Library of France. Ref. G 69629.

“The bridge dated back to the ancient province of the Vivarais and had survived
the floods of 1827, 1846 and 1857”, Henry Vaschalde.
Editions J Brun et Compagnie, Carpentras.

of the ruined bridge to exchange goods.
From a photograph by Dr Juventin.