The Region
The Gard region has much to offer in the area for culture vultures, epicureans, the sporty and those in need of rest and relaxation. To reach the house and to enjoy all that the area has to offer a car is essential. For a broad introduction the area, visit frenchentree.com
Uzès lies 20 minutes drive to the south of the house. It is a charming town that received considerable state funding to cover the restoration. The results have transformed the town.
Market days (Wednesdays/Saturdays) are extremely busy during the summer months as holiday-makers from miles around converge on the town to savour the unique atmosphere of an old-fashioned market.
With the arrival of the TV high-speed rail link to Avignon, Uzès has become accessible to Parisians, who have transformed the town into a highly sophisticated center for arts and crafts. The town still hasn't lost its grittiness and character. Antique shops, fine wine stores, designer fashions are there, elbow to elbow with the artisan selling wild boar-flavor dry sausage or goats cheese.
Culturally, the highlight in Uzès is its dance festival in June. Details of which are on the Uzes Dance Festval website.
For a grasp of all Uzès has to offer, click on the web site of the Office de Tourisme
Other attractions nearby include the visitor centre for the factory of liquorice-maker Haribo, which explains the manufacturing processes and history of this confectionery. Definitely a visit for the kids!
The Romans built the Pont du Gard as an aqueduct to provide Nîmes with water. It is an astonishingly impressive structure and has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The official Web site has further details:
Nîmes is worth a day trip to see the Roman amphitheatre, which is still used for staging concerts, bullfights and international tennis tournaments. For details on the May `Feria' bullfight season, see http://www.arenesdenimes.com/
The official Web site for the tourist office is:
http://www.ot-nimes.fr/english_nimes/index.php
Nîmes is also the gateway to the Carmargue, whose trademark black bulls are the link to bullfighting tradition. The area, which is the western delta area of the River Rhône as it exits to the Mediterranean Sea, is also known for its flamingos and white horse.
To the west of Nîmes, Aigues Mortes is an interesting visit. It was where Saint Louis, the French king, built a port from which to launch his Crusade. It is historically interesting and there are some good restaurants and bars there too.
http://www.ot-aiguesmortes.fr/UK/Monuments.htm
Closer to home, west of Alès, there is the steam train that climbs up into the Cevennes mountains amid some breathtaking scenery. The train leaves from Anduze and heads to St-Jean-du-Gard. See http://www.trainavapeur.com/
Just outside Anduze there is also a huge bamboo plantation set out in the 19th century by a wealthy spice merchant. The gardens are really quite spectacular, featuring Redwood trees, which seem quite incongruous in a part of the world where trees are mostly heat-resistant bog oak, olive trees or fruit trees. http://www.bambouseraie.com/
For historians, there is also a museum on the flight by the Hugenots and Camisards to the Cevennes mountains to avoid repression. It also reflects how the area was a stronghold of the Protestant faith. http://museedudesert.com/
For the sporty, a good day out is kayaking on any of the rivers Gardon, Ceze or Ardeche. Note that young children will not be permitted to participate, since there are rapids on these rivers. Leaflets giving details of various canoe providers at locations on these three rivers can be found in the apartment with a host of other literature on what there is to see and do.
There is also parapente off Mont Bouquet, the mountain that overshadows the house. http://www.parapentesud.com/p_site.htm
|
