The gard department

Cevennes green forests, mediteranean sunny beaches, garrigue wilde vegetation, important roman heritage... the gard department welcomes you!

Aigues-mortes  Archeologic and historic society : A small museum showing remains found around Aigues-Mortes in the last centuries  Chapel of the Grey Penitents : XVIIth century. Great "retable" by Sabatier  Chapel of the White Penitents : XVIIth century. Great paintings by X. Sigalon and A. Gleize  The Saint Louis square and the church "Notre Dame des Sablons"

Among salt and sea  Unique in Europe. Among salt and sea, in the middle of a wild and protected environment, you will discover the oldest salt marsh of Mediterranean sea and its fauna and flora  Visit of the salt museum

Le grau-du-roi  The old districts at the edge of the channel  The Lighthouse of Espiguette, situated at the entrance of the fishing port dating from 1863, on the beautiful sandy beach at the end of the same name, lined with landscapes of Camargue  The Palace of the Sea, Seaquarium : wonder of the Mediterranean and tropical aquatic fauna, ponds with sharks crossed by a tunnel made of glass of twenty metres long

The vigan region  Fountains, narrow medieval streets, gardens can lead the visitor into assuming that the Vigan is no more than a peaceful place, good to have a rest in, where time flows by gently, in the southern way. Don't be fooled. This is a little town that has lost nothing of the vitality that breathed life into it during the great silk making epoch. There are several feast and festivals that make it into a much sought-after meeting place, and the fairs and markets bring together the local pelardon, rennet apples and sweet onions, in exuberance and jollity.

Le pont du gard  The Romans chose wisely when deciding that the source of the Eure at Uzès would supply Nîmes with water. In capturing these pure well-springs, were they not also capturing something of the calm contentedness that runs over this land? All that remained to be done was build 50 km of aqueduct and a Bridge.

Nimes, the crucible of culture and history  Nimes is an attractive city, with long boulevards and the typical narrow streets. It has cosy squares, parks and fountains and wonderful Provencal markets. The Amphitheatre and La Maison Carree are good examples of uniquely Roman architecture and are two of the most well preserved monuments in the Roman world. The amphitheatre is a smaller copy of the Coliseum in Rome.  Visit also of La Caree d'Art, a museum and gallery of contemporary art which is often referred to as the Pompidou Centre of Southern France. It was designed by British architect Norman Foster in 1993. This modern glass and steel building is a startling contrast to the ancient Maison Caree but does not seem out of place. It is a harmonious blending of new and old.  Jardin de la Fontaine - It is peaceful and quiet walking through groves of pines and cedar, traversing green lawns and stone terraces, a pleasant way to spend a couple of morning hours. Serene ponds surround the fountain from which the 18th century garden gets its name.

Côte du rhône country  A changing universe that winds and unwinds around a fluid axis: that is the Rhône. A river of fertility, carrying alluvia and culture, the pebbles and History. It is the connecting element that brings all these contrasting lands together.  Along its banks, numerous paths are open to the visitor, rich in landscapes and history, in wind and sun, and of course the ever-present vineyards.  Dotted everywhere with fortifications, Roman and medieval ruins, the Rhône banks in Gard make up a rich ring wherein grow the vines for France's finest rosé wine, Tavel.  The Gard landscape of vines and garrigue leans over the river at Roquemaure where 16th century magistrates were already stamping wine casks with the letters C.D.R.  Wine tasting.