Alès
What to do and see
in Alès?
Located in France in the Gard department, Alès is the second largest city after Nîmes and only 45 minutes from the Les Cascades campsite in the Gard. It is also considered the capital of the Cévennes. Besieged in the 17th century during the Wars of Religion, Alès saw the signing of a peace edict confirming the continuation of the Edict of Nantes.
Following the revocation of the latter, a Vauban fort was erected. This ancient city, with a mining history dating back to the 19th century, boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage. Between the citadel, the exhibition mine, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral and the Tour Vieille park, there is plenty to discover in Alès during your stay in the Gard!
Discover
the Alès show mine
It was founded in 1945 with the aim of training young miners. Now closed, this mine, comprising 700 metres of galleries, houses a museum where you can learn about the history of the mine and the working conditions of the time.
Put on a helmet and descend with a guide to discover all the secrets of how the mine was created, how the miners worked and what specialised jobs they did. Enjoy night tours every Wednesday and daytime guided tours for €10 (€5.50 reduced rate).
Visit to
Fort Vauban
Fort Vauban stands on the site of the medieval castles of the seigneury of the town of Alès. Overlooking the town, it housed soldiers tasked with keeping an eye on Protestants, as well as a prison for those who refused to renounce their religion.
Prisoners were also held there during the two world wars in the 20th century. Guided tours of the citadel are available. They last 1.5 hours and are offered by the Cévennes Tourist Office. The cost is €4 per adult and €1 per child aged 12 to 18.
Exploring Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral
This religious building is one of Alès’ treasures that is not to be missed. Located on Place Saint-Jean, it was built between the 17th and 18th centuries with the aim of combating Protestantism. An emblem of the city of Alès, it features imposing architecture and a beautiful bell tower.
The Cévennes Tourist Office organises guided tours to discover the cathedral, during which you will learn about its construction and architectural features (€5 per tour).
A trip to the Parc de
la Tour Vieille
This public leisure park is free to enter and welcomes visitors all year round. Formerly private, this botanical garden is well worth a visit when exploring Alès in the Gard.
It’s a real little paradise where you can cool off in summer, between a water feature and the shade provided by a vast collection of trees and exotic plants.
An ideal place for a family outing, the park offers a wide range of leisure activities for adults and children alike, including playgrounds for the little ones to have fun and a mini golf course open in the afternoon for some welcome entertainment (€3 per round of golf; €1.50 reduced rate).
Outing to the
Ferias of Alès
The Feria is an excellent way to discover this town in the Gard region from a new perspective, highlighting its traditions. Over five days, discover the ferias of Ascension and its bullfights, bodegas and horse races, also known as ‘Gardonnenque races’.
Every year, these festivities attract crowds of aficionados from France and beyond. The programme for the Feria in Alès at the foot of the Cévennes mountains includes a wide range of entertainment, from parades and bandas to various tournaments, where you can dance, laugh and eat while sharing good times with friends or family.
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