Annonay and hot-air balloons, the art of flight since 1782

Annonay-Rhône and hot-air balloons go back nearly 250 years. Let’s take a closer look at this passion for flight, which originated in the Ardèche region.

From aerostat to hot-air balloon

According to legend, it all began with a reflection on the hot air in front of the chimney of a Montgolfier brother during a trip to … Spain!

This led to the first successful aerostat experiment in 1782 in the Vidalon park on the banks of the River Deûme.

The first public flight took place in 1783 at the Place des Cordeliers in Annonay, in front of the Estates of Vivarais*, before the most famous, in front of the King in Paris.

Since that first experience, and with the ^21st century just around the corner, Annonay has become a historic site for aerostation (classified in 2002 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics).

The first flight of an aerostat

The first official flight took place on 4 June 1783, in front of the Estates General of Vivarais (nobles, ecclesiastics and the people) in the courtyard of the Cordeliers convent in Annonay.

Video of the reconstruction of the first Montgolfier flight in Annonay :

Since that landmark day in the history of air travel, the city of hot-air balloons has kept the tradition alive, with an annual historical re-enactment in the Place des Cordeliers and a take-off celebration in the Parc Déomas in Annonay.

History of the Montgolfier brothers

A few dates taken from the AIAA* website’s chronology of aerospace history:

➡ 4 June 1783
The Montgolfier brothers’ balloon became the first unmanned balloon flight. The balloon was propelled by burning a pile of damp wool and old shoes

➡ 19 September 1783
The Montgolfier brothers successfully attempt the second test of their hot-air balloon in Paris in front of King Louis XVI. This flight has passengers on board: a rooster, a duck and a sheep.

➡ 21 November 1783
Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier built a hot-air balloon that rose 84 feet (25 m) into the air with the first human aviators, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent. The balloon remained aloft for almost four minutes. 19 January 1784 – Joseph Montgolfier flies his invention for the first time with six other passengers.

Annonay and hot-air balloons

And today, what about ballooning in the Annonay-Rhône catchment area?

Every year, theart of taking to the skies is showcased in the Parc Déomas on the anniversary date of more than two centuries of aerostation and hot-air ballooning history, which sets the pace for aerial life in the conurbation.

A sign of this deep-rooted commitment to the Annonay-Rhône area is the annual air and hot-air balloon festival, held every first weekend in June, which celebrates the art of flight, blending tradition and innovation, from historical re-enactments to demonstrations of the most high-performance balloons, such as the Racer Chaize.

To mark the occasion, members of the Annonay Hot Air Balloon Association are bringing back to life the flight of the first paper balloon on 4 June 1783. It was the start, in this Ardèche town, of the conquest of the air.

This commemoration is now a local tradition, bringing pilots from all over the world to the Ardèche in a festive atmosphere. It is also a way of honouring the brothers Joseph and Etienne de Montgolfier, the inventors of these flying machines.

Festival L’art de l’envol*, video presentation :

The art of taking to the skies in the Annunciation area also involves professionals and associations offering you the chance to discover hot-air ballooning and learn about the pleasures of flying from the two balloon launch sites, Parc Déomas and Château de Gourdan.

Annonay-Rhône is also home to a number of hot-air balloon service providers and user associations offering services ranging from the creation and repair of hot-air balloons to first flights and balloon trips.

Watch a video of a hot-air ballooning session, from departure to landing, in pictures and music, in the Ardèche and its sensations, with the testimony of the sky navigators from Montgolfières et compagnie :