Tourism in Uzès

Uzès is a town of art and history in the Gard, 52 km from Camping Crin Blanc, known for its title of first duchy of France and its exceptionally well-preserved Renaissance centre. From the campsite, it is a natural extension of a day exploring the region: the morning among the rice fields and manades of the Camargue, the afternoon in the shady streets of the historic centre of Uzès. The town is easy to explore on foot from the car parks on the edge of the pedestrian centre, with no extra transport needed once you are there.

In 1565, King Charles IX raised the lordship of Uzès to the rank of first duchy of France, an honour granted to the Duke of Crussol that placed the town at the top of the kingdom’s nobility. This status shaped the face of the town: Renaissance mansions, classical façades and nearly 40 listed historic monuments are packed into a town centre that is surprisingly compact for the Gard. Today the town holds the Ville d’art et d’histoire label and gives its name to the Pays d’Uzès community of municipalities, which groups the surrounding villages as far as the Pont du Gard.

The Tour Fenestrelle is the landmark you see from afar as you approach Uzès. This 42-metre Romanesque bell tower, unique in France for its round shape inspired by the Lombard style, can no longer be climbed for safety reasons, but can be viewed freely and at no charge from outside, on Place de l’Évêché. Right next to it, the cathedral of Saint-Théodorit-et-Saint-Firmin, rebuilt after the 17th-century Wars of Religion, has an organ case that is among the few still original in France, an easy stop to combine with the Tour Fenestrelle, a few minutes’ walk away.

The medieval garden of Uzès, a stone’s throw from the cathedral, recreates on the remains of the old episcopal fortifications a garden of herbs and dye plants as it might have been grown in the Middle Ages. The site, run by an association, is open every day from 1 April to 1 November, with opening hours that vary with the season. It is a green, shady break between two monuments, ideal for children curious about the plants found in Provençal cooking.

Things to do in Uzès

Place aux Herbes is the place to linger, coffee in hand, under the arcades that surround it. Every Saturday morning, it hosts the Uzès Provençal market: herbes de Provence, goat’s cheese, olive oil and bric-a-brac set up around its 19th-century iron fountain.

The rest of the week, the square is the natural starting point for exploring the historic centre, a stone’s throw from the streets leading up to the ducal castle and several art galleries set up in old shops.

Must-sees in Uzès

Don’t miss the Tour Fenestrelle, a Romanesque bell tower unique in France, and the ducal castle, a residence lived in by the same family for centuries, a few minutes’ walk from each other.

Between Renaissance heritage, a Provençal market and the Gard art of living, Uzès promises a day out full of discoveries.

The ducal castle has been the residence of the Duke of Uzès since the 11th century, passed down without interruption within the same family since the title of first duchy was granted in 1565. The building mixes the styles of the different periods of its construction, from the medieval Bermonde tower to the Renaissance façade.

Close by, the former bishop’s palace houses the Musée Georges Borias, with its collections of local archaeology and painting, a shorter stop to round off your visit without spending an extra half-day.

Today, the ducal castle is open all year round except 25 December and 1 January, with regular guided tours in the morning and afternoon. Uzès also hosts two cultural events every year: the Uzès Seuls en Scène festival in May, co-produced with the comedian Patrick Timsit, and the Nuits Musicales d’Uzès in summer, the oldest classical music festival in the region.

Uzès is in the Gard, in Occitanie, about twenty kilometres from Nîmes. The town is one of the must-see destinations for a stay in the Camargue. It is also a great starting point for discovering other nearby places, especially the Pont du Gard (less than 20 minutes’ drive), Nîmes (about 20 km) or Avignon, to the east. Your stay is also a wonderful opportunity to discover iconic places such as the Pont du Gard or the Camargue Regional Nature Park.