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Visit Gard, France

With such Roman monuments as the amphitheatre at Nimes and the aquaduct at Pont du Gard history plays a large role in Gard tourism...but don't overlook coastal towns such as fortified Aigues-Mortes or the desolate beauty of the Cevennes when you visit

Selected places to visit in Gard

Aigues-Mortes is an impressive fortified town in ths salt flats of coastal Gard
Aigues-Mortes

On the banks of the Ardeche river, Aigueze is still overlooked by the ruins of a medieval castle
Aigueze

Anduze is a typical Languedoc town with an intersting historical centre
Anduze

The town of Beaucaire is at the eastern frontier of Languedoc, across the Rhone river from Tarascon (Provence)
Beaucaire

Remote area famed for Robert Louis Stevenson's "Travels with a donkey"
Cevennes National Park

The small village of la Roque-sur-Ceze is now listed as one of the 'most beautiful villages in France'
La Roque-sur-Ceze

The popular seaside resort of La Grau-du-Roi has 20 km of beaches and a traditional harbour
Le Grau-du-Roi

The small town of Le Vigan has a picturesque medieval centre and one of the most beautiful bridges in the Gard
Le Vigan

The lively town of Nimes is visited for its roman ruins, including a large colosseum and an ancient temple
Nimes

One of the finest Roman monuments in France, the Pont du Gard is also in a very picturesque setting
Pont du Gard

Garden lovers will enjoy this unusual garden with hundreds of bamboos and many other ornamental plants
Prafrance bamboo garden

Uzes is especially notable for its cathedral and the adjacent Italian style round tower
Uzes

Less well known that Avignon across the river, Villeneuve-les-Avignon also has interesting historical monuments
Villeneuve-les-Avignon

Gard, Languedoc: highlights

Gard is one of the departments of France that forms part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. To the north of the Languedoc region, the department also includes a short stretch of Medietrranean coastline around Aigues-Mortes.

It is undoubtedly the eastern section of the Gard that attracts the most visitors because there are several important attractions. These include both the renowned Roman ruins to be seen at Nimes (and the attractive city itself), and also the Pont du Gard - a roman aqueduct near Nimes.

Also at the eastern end of the department, don't miss the village of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon and its monuments, just across the Rhone river from Avignon (Avignon itself falls in Provence). The twin-towns of Beaucaire and Tarascon are also well placed in the centre of the 'Nimes : Arles : Avignon' triangle if you are exploring the eastern reaches of the Gard department.

Slightly west of Nimes see also Sommieres, a medieval town and castle in an attractive setting while to the south the abbey buildings at Saint-Gilles are not to be missed.

The 'most beautiful village'of La Roque-sur-Ceze is to the north-east of the Gard department, along with Aigueze on the north-eastern frontier with Provence.

In the centre-north of the Gard visit the historical town at Uzes which has some fine medieval buildings, and the unusual 12th century castle at Chateau de Portes.

In the centre visit Vigan and if oriental gardening is your thing you will enjoy the great bamboos at the bamboo garden of Prafrance (near Anduze) which features 15 hectares of exotic bamboo planting.

Towards the west discover the forested slopes and lost villages of the Cevennes Saint-Jean-du-Gard is another attractive small town, while the Cirque de Navacelles and the Abîme de Bramabiau are scenic highlights.

Coastal Gard

Near the coast you should visit the fortified town of Aigues-Mortes, while sun worshippers will want to head for the popular sea resorts and beaches on the coast between Montpellier and Aigues-Mortes such as Le Grau-du-Roi (near La Grande Motte), and Palavas-les-Flots.

Grand Sites of France

- Pont du Gard (also listed as a UNESCO world heritage site);

- Cirque de Navacelles (scenic highlight in the Cevennes); and

- the Aven d'Orgnac (caves, on the border with the Ardeche)

Note: Nimes airport falls within the Gard department.

See a list of all Gard communes

Map of Gard

French version: Gard (Francais)