On your way to the town centre, you may find yourself distracted by one of the 2 neighbouring boulangeries, or by the turn-off for a delightful shady country walk. When you reach the centre, you'll find a huge range of cafés and restaurants. We've tried quite a few and it seems to be almost impossible to have a bad meal in Uzès: it's just a question of how formal / informal, chic / experimental etc you want to be.
Uzès is the seat of the First Duchy of France. Not that the title counts for anything in the modern republic, but the Ducal Palace still sits in the old town and offers guided tours. Close by is the more relaxed option of the Medieval Garden, from which you can climb the tower for a roof-top view. You will also be offered tea brewed from some of the herbs grown in the garden!
Shopping and food are serious pleasures in France. Put these together and you have the amazing Saturday market (with a smaller version on Wednesdays) in the Place aux Herbes. Our advice is to get there early, enjoy all the tempting tasty bites on offer, then relax over a coffee and watch the rest of the world go by.
The Pont du Gard is possibly the best-preserved Roman aqueduct in the world. It was the most obvious part of an engineering project to transport water 50kms to Nîmes, starting from Uzès. There is now a visitor centre with shops, exhibitions etc. Entry is free if you cycle (a national cycle route cuts through the park).
Further afield, Uzès is ringed by fascinating villages such as Arpaillargues, St Quentin La Poterie (yup - great place to buy artisanal stoneware), Collias (good for river swimming and canoeing), Lussan and Vers Pont du Gard. Nimes, Avignon, Orange, Arles, Aix-en-Provence and Montpellier are all historic and cultural cities. The Cevennes and the Camargue are perfect if you want to get into the hills, or head to the beach.