Page 217 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 20: Two Thousand Years of Bridges 215

PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Start/finish: Pont du Gard to La
Couvertoirade.
Number of Days: 3-4, allowing half a
day to explore Nîmes.
Distance: 290 km (180 miles).
Road conditions: Well-made and
signposted roads, but some narrow
winding ones in the gorges, with
steep hills and hairpin bends. At times
there can be flooding around Nîmes
and the Gardon river; in winter higher
altitudes may receive snowfall.
When to go: Good any time of year
but more crowded in the summer.
Spring can be rainy, and winter is
generally clear, though occasionally
La Grand-Combe snow is possible in the mountains.
les Salles-du-Gardon Salindres
Opening hours: Most sights are
Cendras generally open from 10am to 6pm.
(l'Abbaye) Brouzet- Mont Bouquet Some close either on Mondays or on
Col de lès-Alès 629 m
Pierre MAS Tuesdays, and on major public holidays.
SOUBEYRAN Alès
Main market days: Nîmes: daily
Générargues Euzet
ST-JEAN- Serviers- Uzès: Wed, Sat; St-Jean-du-Gard: Tue
DU-GARD LA BAMBOUSERAIE et-Labaume
DE PRAFRANCE (May–Oct: also Wed & Sat) Florac: Thu;
Anduze St-Maurice- Millau: Wed, Fri.
de-Cazevieille UZÈS
Durfort-et- Lézan Major Festivals:: Nîmes: Feria, May
St-Martin La Reglisserie
Lédignan Moussac PONT DU Remoulins and Sep; Uzès: Music Festival, Jul; St-
GARD Pont St-Nicolas GARD Jean-du-Gard: Walking Festival, May;
Aigremont Sauzet
St-Hippolyte- La Calmette Gardon Millau: Dance and Jazz Festival, Jul.
du-Fort Fons
Montfrin
Pompignan Quissac Montmirat DAYTRIP OPTIONS
Marguerittes
Claret Vic-le- Redessan
Fesq NÎMES The entire route can be broken into
Caveirac
three day trips. History enthusiasts
Bouillargues can visit Nîmes and the Pont du Gard
Valflaunès Calvisson
Sommières
Garons in a day. Nature lovers will enjoy a
day’s visit to the Cévennes corniches.
St-Bauzille- Boisseron Uchaud Nîmes-Arles-
de-Montmel Camargue The Gorges du Tarn will make an
excellent day trip for adventure
seekers. For more details, see p221.
Castries
Castelnau- Lunel
le-Lez
Montpellier
Mauguio
Montpellier
Méditerranée
Lattes
Palavas-les-Flots
Golfe du
Lion