Exploring the Languedoc Region:
France is a country of surprising contrasts and within an hour and a half you can visit such vastly different regions as the Cévennes (chestnut forests, Robert Louis Stevenson trail), the Ardèche (river and gorges), the Luberon (Gordes, Fontaine de Vaucluse, 'Peter Mayle country'), Les Alpilles (St Rémy de Provence, Les Baux de Provence) and the Camargue with its wild white horses, and black bulls. The Camargue also offers miles of wild beaches and small fishing ports where fresh fish and seafood can be tasted. Avignon (with its Popes’ palace and famous bridge) and Nîmes (Roman temples and arena) are 45 minutes away and Montpellier (shopping, Opera, old town) and Arles (arena, Van Gogh museum) about an hour. Marseille is France's third largest city (cosmopolitan shopping, scores of fresh seafood restaurants at the old port, museums, Château d'If) - and is 1h 45min by car. There are regular bus services from Uzès to Avignon, Nîmes and Arles.
Sporting Activities:
If you like swimming in the wild, there are beaches on the Gardon where the water is probably quite cool!!! Uzes itself has an excellent municipal swimming pool and tennis club set in the old bishops’ park, only a 15-minute walk from the villa, and a short drive away is La Bouscarasse, a water sports centre. Other sports to be found nearby include horse riding, tennis, golf (Uzes has a 9-hole course), cycling, canoeing/kayaking on the Gardon, and even hot-air ballooning with a local professional. Uzes also has a small aerodrome and aero club. If you like walking, with a contour map you will be able to find paths through the garrigue, or trace the route of the Roman aqueduct to the Pont du Gard, or follow the long distance path (Grande Randonnée), part of which runs parallel to the gorges of the Gardon river. You can also explore the many small, unspoiled perched villages which dot the landscape.
Travel:
9 hours from Calais, 6hrs from Paris, 3.5 hrs from Geneva, 3.5 hrs from Barcelona, and Nice is about 3 hrs. The roads in Languedoc are generally quiet. Economy flights are available with Ryanair, Easyjet and Flybe to Avignon, Nimes, Montpellier, and Marseilles. Coupled with a hire car, this may be a cheaper option than driving. Of course, bringing your own car allows repatriation of more local wine. The French rail system is generally clean and efficient, but not cheap. The TGV service runs from Paris to Montpellier.
Golf:
Golf Club d'Uzès
Address Golf Club d'Uzès, Mas de la Place Pont des Charrettes, 30700 Uzès
Telephone +33 4 66 22 40 03
Fax +33 4 66 22 17 70
Email golfuzes@club-internet.fr
Website golfuzes.club.fr
Other Activities:
Canoeing
