Discover Lussan in Gard, southern France | EUROtoday

Lovely Lussan in Gard, southern France, is formally one of many prettiest villages in France (‘Most Beautiful Villages‘). This pastoral area within the coronary heart of Occitanie has every part an ardent Francophile may want – picturesque villages, castles, gardens, vineyards, wealthy in tradition and historical past, and nice gastronomy.

What to see and do in Lussan in Gard

The medieval village of Lussan is perched on a hill, surrounded by rocky fragrant scrubland peppered with rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage and juniper. It’s a car-free village so depart the wheels within the automobile park under the village and benefit from the websites in peace.

Explore the slim, cobbled streets lined with boutiques, artists workshops, and potteries – and do not miss a go to to Les Ceramiques de Lussan who create the well-known hand-painted guinea fowl of Lussan, simply three minutes by automobile from the city.

Visit 14^th century Saint Peter’s Church, and uncover the city corridor of Lussan in a fifteenth century citadel the place you may go to the stateroom which has a lovely seventeenth century painted ceiling. A stroll alongside the just lately restored ramparts is a should. From right here, you may get pleasure from very good panoramic views over the Cévennes area, the Ardèche mountains and Mont Ventoux – the mountain is understood domestically because the ‘big of Provence.’

Enjoy a break within the shade of the chestnut bushes within the central Place des Marronniers the place there’s a good café-auberge (Maison Gramme) and a pétanque pitch, or the gastronomic Bistrot de Lussan, and close by La Table d’Azor is charming.

Local strolling and trails

There are a number of signed walks and trails in or near Lussan, which vary from 6km to 15km, together with Les Concluses which takes you alongside a spectacular pure gorge lined with rocky corridors hewn by time and water into unusual shapes which give it an otherworldly really feel. There are two choices for strolling the Concluses trails – the simple route takes round 45 minutes over a 2.2km distance; the longer route, 11.3km and round 3h20m, is harder (reasonable) however price it for the gorgeous views.

The locals additionally advocate a stroll that reveals the Menhir of the ‘Pierre Plantée’ – a mysterious megalith in the midst of an oak forest. The tall stone block is assumed to have been erected greater than 2000 years in the past. Its objective is unknown, place of worship, funeral marker or astronomical landmark possibly? Whatever its origins, it is a captivating monument in magnificent countryside.

Places to go to close to Lussan

Tempting as it’s to remain in Lussan, there’s heaps to see within the space which has a wonderful street community.

Uzes

Uzès is about 19km south of Lussan and is completely enchanting. The city dates again to Roman occasions and the medieval streets of the outdated city spiral round a nonetheless lived in medieval citadel often called the Duchy. The Place aux Herbes with terrace cafés and arcades courting to the center ages, hosts a superb weekly market. The ornate Fenestrelle Tower is a part of Saint Théodorit Cathedral constructed from 1090 on the location of a Roman temple (however rebuilt since). The city additionally has a Medieval backyard, the place you may climb the King’s tower for panoramic views of the city and past.

Pont du Gard

A brief distance southwest of Uzès the Pont du Gard is a should see. This Roman aqueduct was constructed within the first century AD to hold water from a spring in Uzès over 50km to Nemausus (now Nîmes). It is without doubt one of the best-preserved Roman aqueducts on this planet, and a UNESCO World Heritage web site. Built on three ranges, it reaches 49m above the rocky riverbed and is a whopping 274m lengthy.

Collias

Located within the coronary heart of the Gardon Gorges, a UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve, Collias is secret place that is bridging with a wealthy pure, architectural, and historic heritage. As you stroll via the slim streets, the previous involves life as you ogle the superbly restored historic homes and loosen up in shaded hidden squares

A river flows via this charming little village and you may swim right here and loosen up on the pebble seashore (it is the locals’ favourite for a refreshing dip. You may rent a canoe right here and paddle your method to the Pont du Gard 8km from Collias. Collias is a central level for very good strolling circuits, and teams may guide an organized hikes together with entry to a paleolithic cave, and an in a single day keep.

The pleasant vacationer workplace can manage stays in Lussan and round, guided excursions for teams, organized hikes and extra: uzes-pontdugard.com/en/groupe