Uzês
What to do and see
in Uzès?
A few kilometres from Nîmes in the Gard region lies Uzès, a charming medieval town. With its ducal castle, Place aux Herbes, charming narrow streets and 17th- and 18th-century houses, a tour of its historic centre is a must to discover a thousand years of history in this town in the south of France, just a few minutes from our Les Cascades campsite.
The history
of Uzès
The first inhabitants of Uzès, located not far from the Pont du Gard, settled near the Eure River. In Roman times, this spring was tapped to supply water to the city of Nîmes, which was then in development.
From the 5th century onwards, Uzès began to flourish. The city was home to an important bishopric with almost 200 parishes, which remained until the early 19th century.
With a strong Protestant influence, Uzès was a supporter of the French Reformation. It suffered during the Wars of Religion, with the destruction of many buildings such as the Saint-Théodorit Cathedral, which was rebuilt in 1632 but nevertheless managed to preserve its 12th-century Fenestrelle tower, emblematic of Uzès.
The town rose to become the country’s leading duchy in the 16th century when the Count of Crussols became a duke. The castle is the town’s emblem, harmoniously blending architecture and decorations from different eras.
Ancient cellars, medieval towers, a Renaissance-style façade combining architectural ornamentation reminiscent of ancient Greece and 18th-century style…
These different elements characterise this unique building. The interior contains remarkable furniture and other collectibles. Awarded the ‘Ville d’art et d’histoire’ label, Uzès saw its town centre restored in 1965.
What to do and see in Uzès?
In the historic heart of the town, during your holiday in the Gard, you can discover beautiful mansions and the pleasant Place aux Herbes. Flanked by plane trees with a fountain and arcades, it exudes an exceptionally lively atmosphere on market days.
There are also 40 buildings listed as historic monuments to admire, including Saint-Théodorit Cathedral. It features some interesting decorative elements: organs, wrought iron wall decorations, façade, etc. Adjacent to it, the Fenestrelle Tower with its 42-metre-high bell tower is a must-see in Uzès. It is the only round bell tower in the country.
Also worth seeing is the former bishop’s palace with its 17th-century architecture, which now houses the Georges-Borias Museum, where you can discover the history of Uzès, as well as an exhibition of painted wooden cabinets, paintings and pottery.
Opposite the bishop’s palace stands the former residence of the Baron of Castille, who added two floors to the building, as well as a remarkable pediment and balcony. Next, discover the Church of Saint-Etienne, rebuilt in the 18th century on the site of the former religious building destroyed during the Wars of Religion, of which the bell tower remains.
On the Duchy side, make way for the Château d’Uzès with its feudal towers (the 42-metre-high Bermonde tower, the King’s tower and the Bishop’s tower), its Gothic chapel and its gardens. You can admire various architectural styles dating back to the Middle Ages. Another must-see in Uzès is the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This three-level aqueduct once supplied Nîmes with water from Uzès.
The site offers a wide range of activities: museum visits, swimming, hiking. To continue enjoying your visit to the town while recharging your batteries, discover its medieval garden with 400 botanical species to admire in peace and quiet.
Continue your visit to Uzès by exploring the Eure Valley, where you’ll find Roman ruins of a basin used to control the flow of water to Nîmes, for a lovely walk in the heart of nature.
Finally, on the cultural side, head to the Musée 1900 in Uzès and its collection of early 20th-century cars and toys. Children are sure to be captivated by the Haribo Candy Museum at the entrance to Uzès.
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