How to get here:
By air:
Ryanair operate flights from Luton and Liverpool to Nimes (Garons) and from Stansted to Montpellier (Mediterranee). EasyJet flys from Gatwick to Montpellier and Marseilles (Marignane). British Airways operate flights from Gatwick to Marseilles, also Flybe goes from Southampton and Exeter and Jet2 from Edinburgh, both to Avignon.
Please note, the frequency and timetables of flights are constantly changing. A car is essential; rental companies are available at Nimes, Marseilles, Montpellier and Avignon Airports and also at Nimes Railway Station - Avis, Hertz and Europcar and others.
By rail:
A regular TGV service operates from Paris (3 hrs) or Lille (4½ hrs) to Avignon or Nimes.
By road:
From Paris you can join the A10/A71 crossing the Central Massif on the A75 to junction 39 and then the Cevennes mountains on the N88/N106 to Alès; a spectacular journey. Alternatively, take the A6/A7/A9 Autoroute de Sud through Lyon to junction 25 at Nimes (West).
Things to do and see:
Unlike larger towns and coastal resorts of southern France, Alès has retained its character and charm. There’s a daily covered market, and on Mondays, an open air market spills out into the surrounding streets. There are free music shows every evening in summer months and many festivals throughout the year. In early May the local Feria turns Alès into a 4-day party, with bull-fighting in the local Arena and parades and dancing in the streets. The ever popular provencal market in Uzes on a Saturday morning is a must with its pretty squares filled with artisanal stalls. Uzès and Vézenobres are just two of many medieval towns and villages in the Cevennes foothills.
Stretching from the mountains and forests of the Cevennes to the salt marshes of the Camargue, the Gard offers a huge variety of attractions. Nîmes boasts the only fully preserved Roman temple of the ancient world, the Maison Carrée, and the city centre also features a number of interesting museums and many good shops.
The famous Roman amphitheatre, Les Arènes, is host to excellent live concerts in the summer months but advance booking is essential. The Pont de Gard, just northeast of Nîmes, is the largest surviving Roman aqueduct, while Aigues Mortes to the south is an almost perfectly preserved walled medieval town.
For lovers of the great outdoors there are endless opportunities for cycling, hiking, pony trekking, fishing and canoeing. The nearest golf courses are Nimes Vaccaroles, a good 18 hole course and Uzes, a pretty 9 hole course. For fun, there is a 6 hole (par 19) riverside course just 10 minutes away at Ribaute-les-Tavernes. There are miles of sandy beaches on the Mediterranean coast and countless vineyards to explore and enjoy. For the less energetic, there are many scenic drives in the magnificent Cevennes - to Mont Aigoual, the Cirque de Navacelles and the Gorges du Tarn. With superb light and beautiful views, the area offers great opportunities for those who love to paint.
Other Activities:
Rock climbing, flying, canoe & kayaking, all within easy reach
