Uzes, Avignon & Pont du Gard France

We started our day early, leaving Millau after breakfast. Our route took us over a high plateau and down into beautiful, isolated valleys at the head of the Hérault River, famous for its sheep cheese, including the renowned Roquefort. The drive was stunningly mountainous.

We stopped in Uzès for lunch. Since it was Saturday and market day, traffic was intense, and parking was a challenge. Uzès, a charming medieval town in the Gard department of the Languedoc region, was once a small Gallo-Roman administrative settlement. The 11th-century Tour Fenestrelle, the town’s most famous icon, stands guard over Uzès. The lively town square and historical architecture make Uzès well worth a visit.

We ate in the town square—nicely prepared Niçoise salad—and then continued to Pont du Gard. This was my second visit, but the Pont du Gard was just as impressive as the first time, despite being busier and more expensive. Built by the Romans in 1 AD to channel water 50 km from a spring near Uzès to Nîmes, this aqueduct is one of the best-preserved Roman structures in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The highest aqueduct built by the Romans, it spans the Gardon River and remains a marvel of ancient engineering.

The Mistral, a strong wind from the Alps down the Rhône Valley, was blowing a gale, making the day less enjoyable than it could have been. We then headed to Avignon, where we spent the night at the ever-reliable Hotel Mignon in the heart of the old city. Although the hotel is budget-friendly and the rooms are small, it is clean, comfortable, and ideally located for exploring the city. Due to the increasing Mistral winds, our plans to dine at one of the many restaurants in the town square were dashed, and we ended up having a typical French meal indoors before heading to bed.

The next morning, we visited the Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace), a massive edifice built over several centuries by a succession of popes. Avignon, a walled city in the Vaucluse department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, is most famous for being the seat of the papacy during the 14th century when a schism with Rome led to a second pope establishing a stronghold there. The palace is a testament to the city’s historical and architectural significance, offering a fascinating glimpse into medieval papal life. Read more about Avignon and the Popes’ Palace here.

After exploring Avignon, we continued our journey to Menton, a French seaside town on the Italian border. Our main reason for visiting Menton was to drop off the car and catch the train to Italy. While Menton itself is a typical French seaside town with a bit of an Italian feel, I’ve never quite understood the allure of the Côte d’Azur/French Riviera with its stony beaches, dusty interior, and constant bustle. In Menton, we stayed at Hotel Lemon, another budget option that was excellent, and had a satisfying steak dinner at a nearby restaurant.

For more information on traveling in France, read our France Travel Guides.