Ever heard of the Désencyclopédie de l’Ardèche? Would you like to see a collective attempt at spicy humour about our beautiful department?
La Désencyclopédie, or how a satirical French-language version of Wikipedia came into being in 2003!
Our motto: be intelligently stupid.
Among the pages in this encyclopaedia, which isn’t really an encyclopaedia at all, is one on the Ardèche department and its inhabitants, not the ardéchois, but… the ardèchaînés!
the ardèchaînés
Extract from the desencyclopédie of the Ardèche, with a presentation of its inhabitants:
“They are the ardèchaînés, as their neighbours in the Drôme region know so well.
In their spare time, they hunt for gallinules with shotguns, drink their brandy (90° minimum) and deliberate for hours about the baker’s alleged extramarital affair (when there is one).
The population of the Ardèche is also made up of hippies in 405s, stuffed with straw and running on cooking oil. They used to perpetrate terrorism with hooch, now they make picodon.
The “ardèchaîné” is very recognisable thanks to his “gruff” attitude. He usually has a big belly, a beard and a rifle.
The Ardèchaînés love cousin relationships (a cousinade)”.
Towns and villages in the Ardèche
Another extract is a list of the main towns in the Ardèche region, with an ironic and acid presentation:
“Privas: the administrative capital, where all the civil servants are crammed together.
Largentière: sub-capitalun mainly populated by North Africans.
Tournon-sur-Rhône: sub-capital of dé nou and din té ré, or intersidereal void in Occitan, also known for being the only town where the number of people in traffic jams exceeds the number of inhabitants, whatever the time of day.
Vallon-Pont-d’Arc: also known as piegum-touristum in Latin.
Aubenas: nicknamed Zobna by the locals, it’s a great place to show off your stuff.
Le Cheylard: The cheylarium-nostrum, or how to make lunatics without psychiatric hospitals.
Annonay: The largest town in the Ardèche, and the smallest of the department’s larger towns.
Les Vans: pronounce vence; shared between doryphores and marseillais, this is where you learn to enjoy liquid or more vaporous pleasures…
Berzème: An exceptional village, best known for the alcoholism of its inhabitants during the July festival.
Le Teil: Industrial capital of the Ardèche, with no industries.
Valence: since we were supposed to make a list of towns, we’re putting a real one anyway. OK, it’s not in the Ardèche, but it’s just the same.”
And which photo has been chosen to illustrate this must-see article on discovering the Ardèche? The Devil’s Bridge at Thueyts, of course!
- The Ardèche desencyclopedia, direct access :
