Page 315 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

museum explores the Gard. Early evening is h10am-12.30pm & 2-6.30pm
bridge’s history. You can a good time to visit, as Jul & Aug, 10am-noon & 2-6pm
walk across the tiers for admission is cheaper and Sep-Jun), a castle that
panoramic views over the bridge is stunningly belonged to the powerful
the Gard River, but the illuminated after dark. Dukes of Uzès for more
best perspective on the The Drive » Drive northwest than 1000 years. You can
bridge is from down- from the Pont du Gard along the climb 135 steps to the top
stream, along the 1.4km D981 for 15km to Uzès. of the Tour Bermonde for
Mémoires de Garrigue a magnificent view across
walking trail. the town’s rooftops.
For a unique perspec- 2 Uzès Built in 1090 on the
tive on the Pont du Gard, Northwest of the Pont du site of a Roman temple,
you need to see it from Gard is Uzès, a once- Uzès’ Cathédrale St-
the water. Canoe and/or wealthy medieval town Théodont (http://nimes.
kayak rental companies that grew rich on the pro- catholique.fr; place de l’Évêché;
are plentiful. ceeds of silk, linen and h9am-6pm May-Sep, to 5pm
There are large car liquorice. It’s also home Oct-Apr) was partially
parks on both banks of to the Duché Château destroyed in both the
the river, a 400m level (www.duche-uzes.fr; place 13th and 16th centuries
walk from the Pont du and stripped during
du Duché; €13, incl tour €18;
the French Revolution.
All that remains of the
11th-century church is its PYRENEES & SOUTHWEST FRANCE 28 PONT DU GARD TO VIADUC DE MILLAU
42m-high round tower,
# \ Uzer Tour Fenestrelle, the
RHONE-ALPES only round bell tower in
# \ Balazuc ARDÈCHE France, which resem-
bles an upright Leaning
Lablachère # \ Tower of Pisa.
0 ¸ Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
D104
# \ #\ # \ #\
Les Vans Gorge de Bourg-
l’Ardèche Réserve Saint- # \
Naturelle Andéol Rhône LINK
YOUR
TRIP
Ardèche
# \
Barjac
c Saint- Roman Provence
Ambroix # \ Pont- Saint- Esprit # \ l
Our tour through
La Grand'Combe southern France’s Gallo-
# \
PROVENCE Roman legacy also passes
0 ¸ Bagnols- sur-Cèze # \ through Pont du Gard, so it’s
N106
a perfect add-on.
Alès 0 ¸
D6
u
# \ Cheat’s
LANGUEDOC- Compostela
# \ Vezénobres 0¸ ROUSSILLON Our Chemin de Compostela
# \ D981
Uzès drive is an ideal route to
# \ #
# Pont du the Atlantic Coast. It starts
2
0 ¸ Gard 180km northeast of Millau in
# 1 l L
D982
# Le Puy-en-Velay.
Gard
# \
Remoulins
F G 313
21
Rhône