France
Le Gard, the other South of France
Chateau de Uzes
When planning a visit to the South of
France, most think of Provence, with its
sleepy stone villages, lavender fields,
and seaside. Instead, why not consider
the west side of the Rhone River and try
the Gard. This area is full of
interesting things to see and do and has
a great variety of countryside to cater
for all tastes. A good place to stay is
the beautiful town of Uzes. This has a
mass of typical French stone houses and
narrow streets built around the
magnificent castle of the Dukes of Uzes
and the lovely arcaded square of the
Place aux Herbes. There are two weekly
markets, a huge one on Saturdays, and a
smaller one on Wednesdays for local
farmers.
Pont du Gard
Close by is the picturesque town of
Nimes famous for its superb Roman ruins,
its huge amphitheater that seats 20,000,
bullfights, the Maison Carree, a perfect
small temple, and several other
interesting sights as well. The Roman
Emperor Augustus, over 2,000 years ago,
founded the town. Nimes is a bustling
place filled with lots of local
character and great shops too.
The Romans, who occupied Nimes, got
their water from a spring in the valley
below Uzes. Their aqueduct ran for 30
miles and crossed the river Gardon by
means of the Pont du Gard, the finest
remaining Roman aqueduct in the world.
To see it at its best, drive up the
Gardon along the right bank from
Remoulins. You can also walk along a
marked path between the village of Vers
and the Pont itself to see more remains
of this magnificent example of Roman
engineering.
The South of France is famous for its
bullfighting too. The bulls run in the
streets, safely corralled behind iron
fencing. However, the village youth
tries to show off its bravery to the
girls by getting as close as possible.
Little happens that is dangerous. A
communal supper and dancing follows in
the evening. Every village, in the area,
has its fete in the summer, which is
worth experiencing.
Contributor: John Buss
If you plan to go to the South of
France, consider visiting the Le Gard.