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* Visit the Pont-du-Gard.
Conservative method (by
bike or car): Go down to main highway, turn left and head toward Remoulins.
Within a quarter of a mile will be around-a-bout with entrance to park
at the Pont du Gard. Locals park on the highway at no charge. This acquaduct
bridge is so amazing that as soon as Napolean saw it he started its restoration.
The French government has been putting money into it ever since. Go down
below the bridge and have a picnic next to the river.
Adventurous method: (30 min on foot)
Find the men playing boules in the town square. Notice the public
restrooms across the street. Turn to the right and follow that street/road
out of town toward the main highway and Remoulins. You will pass a natural
fountain on the left (fill water bottles because it is a fountain of youth!).
Keep going down to the main highway. Go straight across the highway and
follow paved road past the round-a-bout. Follow the road up the hill. You will see aqueduct ruins.
Check them out. Follow the ruins and turn left as they end. Follow the
trail. If you seem lost keep going; the canyon is on your right with the
bridge coming up!
On your way back,
cross the main highway back to Vers, but immediately watch for the gravel
road up to the right just past the RR tracks. Go up and take the turn to the left and follow along
until you see more aqueduct ruins. Follow the path along the ruins to
the left back to the village. You will pass fruit orchards and end up
at the back of the village.
* Martin and
Monique recently had a 'romantique' dinner at the nearby Jardins de la
Gare restaurant, within walking distance. After a wonderful classic
French dinner, we walked home hand in hand under the moon and many
stars. Follow the directions below to the wine co-op. Keep going
straight past the co-op and the Gare restaurant is a short distance
ahead on the left. Phone ahead for a reservation: 04 66 03 40 67
* Go for a walk all
around village until you have found the following: town square: stone
sculpture of thinker, men playing boules, place to hand wash your
clothes (fountain), pedestrian path leading from square past gardens and
huge estate owned by the English, path ending at amazing cemetary (go
in and check it out). There are three naturally occuring fountains in
or around the village. A patissiere, bar with pool table and soccer
pinball, beauty salon, town library, elementary school, post office,
pharmacy, doctor, dentist and masseuse offices, tabac, soccer field, and
a wine co-op are all available.
Convenient living! The Boulangerie and village shops are just around the corner from the house.
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"The
Thinker" sits in the town square of the village of Vers (left). This
area of France is crawling with artists. Van Gogh came here for the
special Provencal light. Galleries and artisan ataliers are everywhere.
The light of Provence has a special luminescense. Come see for
yourself. Bring a canvas and your paints, or get started by buying
supplies in Uzes then go to the free local painting class in the
village Mondays at 4pm (3 min on foot).
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 This stone
church with a cypress tree, sits in the country
side between the village of Vers and the village of Castillon. Paint this! |
Stone
quarries are on the edge of the village with fascinating views and
routes between them. See the ruts of the old Roman stone carts.
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* Walk to the cave wine co-op
(10 min). Face the elementary school. Turn around 180 degrees and go forward.
Follow that road until it tees and turns right. At the bottom of the hill
the wine co-op is on the right and the store on the left. (bring
empty plastic 1 gal jug-- if you don't have one, you can buy one) Ask
person inside to fill jug with wine. Be prepared to choose between four
choices of wine-- rouge, cabernet, rougette, or blanc. Rouge is the cheapest
and the best. No sulphites or additives-- whoa... I can't find wine like this anywhere!
* Walk to stone quarries
(15 min). These are where the stone for the Pont du Gard came from. Face
the elementary school. Turn to the left and walk around the school turning
to the right. You will begin to see carriere signs. Keep going until you
get to last (Roman) quarry. You can see it below. Turn right and walk on down. Notice quote
from Einstein on the left behind as you enter. Check out examples of stones. Go for a wander into the
quarry. Try to find where giant cubes of stone are coming from.On your
way back to the village as you exit the quarry make a U to the right and
follow the gravel road down. Watch for the ruts in the stone of the original
Roman stone carts.
* Walk to Castillon (25
min). Follow the route that my house is on out of village. As you exit
the village, watch for crumbling house on left in vines. Check it out.
Keep walking until you get to a village perched on a hill.
As you approach the hill, watch for a pedestrian path straight up to the
village. Go to the cafe for tea. Find the four star restaurant. Check prices on
posted menu. Check out art and pottery shop above the post office. Buy
picnic ingredients at town store. On the way back, descend the hill and
watch for stone church set back in vineyards to the right. Keep on following
footpaths past the church. Find spot for picnic. Circle back home to village
of Vers.
* Visit Uzes farmers' market on Saturday morning. (10 min by car) Take
bus from wine co-op bus stop. A chart is posted there with the
schedule. Uzes has some of the best shopping in the entire South of
France. Check out art shops in town, have lunch after market. You can
rent car in Uzes for the day to go to:
* Trip to Arles: (45
Min by car). Place where Van Gogh lived and painted. Go to Tourist Information
to buy Van Gogh book, find where the Arena stadium is and museums. Trip
to Nimes: (20 min by car): see Roman stadium, festivals. Trip to Carcasson:
the walled city (3 hrs). Trip to Avignon (30 min by car) art exihitions,
music, festivals, Palace of the Popes.
* Walk to the
Gordon river (20 min). Bring a swim suit and have a picnic on the
beach. Go to the town square below main street. Find the stone paved
walkway near the toddler's play area. Follow it until the stone wall on
the left ends. Turn right, and when you pass the cemetary turn left.
Turn right just past the RR tracks and take the dirt/gravel road to the
left in 50M when the vineyard ends. Go all the way down to the main
highway where you will see the Begude de Paulon. Go directly across the
highway and go down to the crossroad. Go straight down the Chemin de
Passuer. As you approach the end it seems like a private driveway. Go
right up to the entrance gate and find the footpath to the right.
Follow it across the footbridge to the beach. This is a public beach of
the Commune de Vers. You can rent a canoe at the town of Collias on the
other side of the river, and paddle under the Pont du Gard!
* Be invited for dinner at the table of a local French family. Peak experience! E25/person.
* Go on a local hike into the garrigue jungle with the Amitie Versoise
(2 hrs, about 6k). A different direction each time. Practice your
French!
* Bike ride to Argilliers, a neighboring village. 4 bikes available
* Visit a local artist or artisan in their workshop. (Please buy something if you can...)
Dominique Dalmais wood sculpture
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