"La Source"
Gard
tel/fax: 00 352 26 34 02 82
lasource@perfectprovence.com

THE REGION

 
The surrounding area is one of the most beautiful in France and there are many things to do. From trekking and rafting in the gorges du Gardon and Ardeche to lying in the sun at a natural aquatic park or browsing round art galleries, there is a multitude of choice. 

Of particular note is the weekly market in Uzès, which is without doubt one of the best in Provence. This takes place every Saturday morning in the historical town centre in Place des Herbes and is always extremely lively, with the atmosphere enhanced by street entertainers. If you want the best choice it is better to be there early. Everything is on offer, with a huge choice of truly fantastic regional fare ranging from cheeses, olives, tapenade and patés to wines and honey, fruit, meat, fish and vegetables. There are also plenty of gift stalls offering provencal pottery, soaps and candles to name but a few items.
 

 

 


10 km south-east of Uzès (towards Avignon) is the famous Pont du Gard. This astounding example of Roman antiquity and ingenuity is superbly preserved but heavily visited, so try to go outside of typical tourist hours. The best time to see it is at sunset when the two-thousand year old stones gradually turn to a magnificent golden colour. Another delightful way to see the Pont du Gard is via the river Gardon – you can rent kayaks and canoes from Kayak Vert at Collias and slowly descend the river until you arrive at Pont du Gard. Kayak Vert will come and pick you up at a retrieval point and drive you back to Collias to collect your car. 
Kayak Vert tel. 04 66 22 80 76

The cities of Avignon, Nîmes and Arles are all well worth a visit. Avignon offers all it’s Provencal charm and the historical past of the period when the Popes were based here (the Palais des Papes is unmissable). Arles and Nîmes are more Roman orientated cities with their arenas and ampitheatres. All of them have nice pedestrian streets with craft shops to discover.

Some of the villages in the region are magnificent. A few worth visiting are:

Uzès – without doubt one of the liveliest and most attractive towns in Provence, Uzès was built on the site of a Roman fortress and has one of the best preserved town centres dating from the feudal period. The town is the architectural, cultural and artistic heart of the region and you will find a multitude of galleries, antiques and highly original shops.

Vézénobres – situated 3 kilometres from La Source, Vézénobres is a spectacular 'perched' village with Romanesque architecture dating from the 12th century.

Castillon-du-Gard – a medieval village with stunning views of the surrounding countryside including the Pont-du-Gard. There are several nice restaurants in the village.

Lussan – this village is perched in the middle of a plain and offers wonderful views all the way to Mont Ventoux. A nice day out is to have lunch on the terrace of Les Trois Muriers in the village and then visit the small passageways and streets. Nearby to the village is a beautiful walk up a dried riverbed (in summer!) at Les Concluses.

St. Quentin-la-Poterie – as its name suggests St. Quentin is famous for its pottery workshops. There are dozens in the village and some offer very original work.

Euzet-les-bains - this small village is only 2 km from the house and is the unlikely home of a lovely and intimate Spa run by the American creator of ‘Arts of Touch’ massage techniques. Tel. 04 66 83 54 89

 

There are a multitude of wine growers and producers in the area and this noble activity remains one of the key sources of income for many people in the region. One of our favourite producers is the Domaine Rouge Garance at St. Hilaire d’Ozhilan who make wonderful Cotes du Rhone reds and whites at very affordable prices. Rouge Garance has been recognised by veteran wine critic Hugh Johnson as one of the better and more original producers of wine in the region. We would also encourage you to visit other producers who are usually very welcoming.

  

A folder providing details of the main tourist attractions is available in the house for you to use.

 

The charm of yesterday, the comfort of today