We invite you to extend your visit by exploring charming Gard villages. Uzès, a real little ''Tuscan city'' is a must-see city for its medieval architecture and its unique silhouette! All around it, there are many villages that are also worth exploring. We present to you 7 delightful villages to explore nearUzes !
Arpaillargues-et-Aureillac and its unique buildings
Taking the road towards Anduze, we advise you to make a first stop 6 kilometers west of Uzès. There you will discover the village of Arpaillargues-et-Aureillac.
Marked by the Agoult family with the story of the countess, a 19th century writer, the village developed around its castle whose walls still preserve the memory of History. As you stroll through the streets, you will discover the old wash house, the windmill and even the wells. Excavations have revealed Gallo-Roman remains such as the statue of Priapus of Aureilhac, visible in the hall of the town hall. The Conques interpretation trail allows you to admire dry stone walls and capitelles.
Garrigues-Sainte-Eulalie and its historical traces
Get back on the road and opt for a small detour through a village rich in well-preserved rural heritage, that of Garrigues-Sainte-Eulalie.
Located in the heart of the hamlet of Sainte-Eulalie, the 12th century Romanesque chapel appears at the foot of a tower topped with a small bell tower. As for the restored Romanesque church, it shelters in the shadow of the medieval castle transformed into a bourgeois residence in the 19th century. To see: the 17th century dovecote.
Moussac and his exceptional fresco
For the rest, go to a picturesque village, perched on a rocky peak and overlooking the Gardon... The village of Moussac.
The restored castle stands proudly in the center of the village. The Protestant temple, the stately tower, the old village and its circulade are to be discovered. Note that Moussac was home to the first liquorice factory in 1836. The imposing wasteland bears witness to this major economic activity until the end of the XNUMXth century.
Aigaliers and its water sources
After this little detour, head towards the pretty village of'Aigaliers.
Aigaliers is a village located on the hillside. It owes its name to the presence of water, often underground. This explains the presence of numerous drinking troughs, wells and wash houses (8 are counted in the commune). The village of Aigaliers is dominated by the remains of its 10th century fortified castle, and is made up of XNUMX hamlets. Glassmaking has been a thriving industry for Aigaliers for centuries.
Serviers-et-Labaume and its preserved viewpoint
New stop in your discovery of the charming villages near Uzès, that of Serviers-et-Labaume.
Serviers is an ancient village located at the foot of a promontory, and dominated by its castle built on the ruins of a fortified castle. Labaume, about two kilometers away, is nestled in the hollow of the valley on the banks of the Seynes. To enjoy a view of the Uzès plain, head towards La Serre. Also worth seeing: the Saint-Martin church, the two-arched Old Bridge and the covered wash houses.
Montaren and Saint-Médiers and its medieval past
The penultimate stop takes place in the village of Montaren and Saint-Médiers.
The village of Montaren takes its name from its geological location on a sand mountain "Monte Arena". This gives it a very particular uniqueness. This municipality includes three groups. The hamlets of Cruviers and Saint-Médiers located on the heights of the plateau. And the village of Montaren on the lower part. This is explained by the erosion which compartmentalizes the plateau, which is crossed to the south by the Seynes river. These villages were officially united in 1815. They now form one and the same commune. Dated from the XNUMXth century, the Sarrazine Tower is the oldest building.
Don't miss the medieval castle with its two towers and dovecotes. And for nature lovers, we invite you to discover the vegetable gardens of the temple and the Carcarie hill with a view of Mont-Ventoux.
La Bruguière and its textile industrial past
End this discovery of the charming villages to visit near Uzès, with the village of La Bruguiere. This village is closely linked to the history of Uzès, due to its strong past linked to silk. This industry reached its peak in this village in the 19th century. Some spinning mills from yesteryear still remain there!
Apart from this past, La Bruguière is a village which stands in the middle of the Gard scrubland, with its stone, sandstone and limestone houses. In the heart of the village, there is a 12th century Romanesque tower and its bell tower which guarded the entrance to the feudal castle which has now disappeared.
