A Self-Guided Tour

Add this guide to your home screen for easy access as you discover the charms of Asheville and beyond.

Welcome to the cultural heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains—where art, history, music, and innovation converge in one unforgettable region.
This self-guided tour is your invitation to explore more than a century of remarkable cultural treasures across Asheville and Western North Carolina. From hidden studios and historic landmarks to soulful street murals and legendary music venues, this guide helps you uncover the spirit that has made this region a wellspring of American creativity.
Step off the beaten path and dive into a world shaped by generations of artists, craftspeople, musicians, writers, chefs, and visionaries. Here, Appalachian roots meet avant-garde experimentation—from the groundbreaking legacy of Black Mountain College to the handmade excellence of Penland School of Craft. You’ll discover the places that launched movements, shaped music genres, and redefined American art.
Let the stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe linger among the city’s literary corners. Hear echoes of folk, jazz, and Americana carried through the hills by pioneers like Jimmie Rodgers—and still resonating today in Asheville’s vibrant music scene.
Admire the preserved beauty of Art Deco architecture and immerse yourself in the thriving galleries, studios, and culinary artistry that make Asheville a magnet for creatives and adventurers alike.
Whether you’re visiting in person or exploring from afar, our interactive guide makes it easy to connect with the soul of this remarkable region.

MUSIC HEADER GRAPHIC

MUSIC

Arts header

ARTS

ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE

writers & theater

WRITERS & THEATRE

 The high French Broad Valley is where one of the world’s oldest rivers in the world begins just northwest of the Eastern Continental Divide near the northwest border of South Carolina. The headwaters spill from the 50-foot-high Courthouse Falls near Balsam Grove. Then, it flows through the high valley north to merge with the  Clinch, then the Tennessee River around Knoxville. From there, it flows over to the Mississippi, and like the river, the culture of WNC flows out to the world. The European settlers of the region lived a hardscrabble, mostly self-sufficient life in the hills and hollers.  The most common of the settlers were from northern Europe, Ireland, Scotland, and England. Music was how they entertained and communicated.  They hunted and eked out a life while constantly living under threat from the harsh elements and Indian confrontations.  This pioneer life gave them almost superhuman abilities, as the British learned in the “Overmountan Men”

Use our audio souvenir and escape to Asheville on any device.

Immerse yourself in authentic local culture with WPVM-FM, Asheville’s voice of the community. Our non-commercial, listener-supported radio brings you:

  • Diverse music you won’t hear anywhere else
  • Engaging talk shows and interviews with area artists

Stream live or download your favorite shows – it’s like taking a piece of Asheville with you wherever you go. Escape to the heart of the Blue Ridge, right from your device. Listen live from our website https://www.wpvmfm.org

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