Tourism and Activity near the Pond du Gard
In the heart of nature
Immerse yourself in the wide open spaces and natural beauties of the Gard and neighboring regions that also reveal treasures of fauna and flora. No less than six natural parks are less than 2 hours drive from the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant, making it an ideal destination to come and enjoy a break of scenery in the fresh air and discover exceptional landscapes of Occitania and Provence ...
- Gorges du Gardon Natura 2000: the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant is part of the Gorges du Gardon Natural Reserve, a preserved site classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The Gardon River, which flows at the bottom of the park and invites to pleasant walks, winds through the impressive canyon of the Gorges du Gardon for several kilometers, before joining the Pont du Gard further down(8 km). Garrigue plateaus, caves and cliffs, and in the middle the Gardon and its translucent waters: preserved landscapes that can be discovered during hikes on foot or on the water by canoe.
- The Cévennes National Park (50 minutes): take the height for a getaway in the heart of this national park, the only one in France located in the mountains, divided between three departments (Gard, Ardèche and Lozère). You will discover an alternation of landscapes between mountains and Mediterranean valleys for hikes in any season.
- The Alpilles Regional National Park (1 hour 00 minutes): head to Provence and its beautiful villages in the heart of this renowned park (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Fontvieille, Les Baux-de-Provence…). Remarkable landscapes between the delta of the Rhône and the Durance, around the famous Alpilles massif, where olive groves, forests and scrubland extend...
- The Baronnies Provençales Regional Natural Park (1 hour 30 minutes): between mountains and landscapes of Provence, this park is located at the crossroads of two departments – Drôme and Hautes-Alpes. There are the colors and scents of the expanses of lavender and aromatic plants, as well as the mountains of the Alps ... There is a remarkable fauna and flora and at night a beautiful starry sky, because here light pollution is particularly limited. A getaway in the heart of nature... all that under the stars!
- The Luberon Regional Natural Park (1 hour 30 minutes): around the famous Luberon mountain, this park covers a large territory of nearly 186,000 hectares. Classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, it seduces by its alternation of landscapes, between the mountains of Ventoux and Luberon, the hills of Roussillon and the Durance valley to the south. We visit the charming towns of Vaucluse and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, such as Forcalquier, Gordes,Manosque, Apt or Cavaillon.
- The Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park (2 h 00): six territories make up this park with its diversity of remarkable landscapes. From mountain peaks to volcanic sites, from green forests to arid plains, chestnut groups and the banks of the Eyrieux: we walk the Ardèche from north to south through perched villages with superb panoramas of a wild and preserved land.
The Calanques National Park (2 h 00): both terrestrial and by the Mediterranean sea, the remarkable beauty that emerges from this unique park makes the reputation of the place worldwide. In the communes of Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat, it is discovered by land but also by sea. Majestic cliffs, secluded coves beaches, valleys and underground cavities, superb colors and lights and small picturesque ports, reveal themselves in any season.
City discoveries
Uzès
City of Art and History
Historic buildings and monuments, art galleries, medieval alleys: about twenty minutes from Collias, Uzès is an open-air museum. The Romans in the first century BC settled there and built nearby a three-level aqueduct to carry water between Uzès and Nîmes: a few kilometers from the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant, the Pont du Gard which spans the Gardon river, is one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world, inscribed on the UNESCO Heritage List.
In the city itself, you can discover the rich historical and cultural heritage, including the famous Duchy – castle – which has survived the ages since the Middle Ages or the Fenestrelle Tower, symbol of Romanesque Art of the 12th century and the Cathedral of Saint-Théodorit, built in the 11th century on the remains of an ancient Roman temple.
Nîmes
The "French Rome"
Located at the crossroads of several territories of character – the Camargue, the Cévennes, the Languedoc – Nîmes, the capital of the Gard, a few kilometers from the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant, is also nicknamed "the French Rome", thanks to its buildings inherited from Antiquity and perfectly preserved: the arenas of Nîmes, the Maison Carrée, the Magne Tower and the Sanctuary of the Fountain, without forgetting the Museum of Romanity to understand everything about life in ancient times.
Do not miss the other monuments that testify to the richness of this city through the centuries, such as the Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Castor Cathedral or the Romanesque House of Nîmes...
Avignon
The city of the popes
About thirty kilometers from Collias, Avignon will delight history lovers: the superb ramparts of the city and the unmissable Palais des Papes (the largest Gothic construction of the Middle Ages) and Pont Saint-Bénézet (or Pont d'Avignon), inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, deserve a getaway, as well as the alleys of the old town.
There are also many museums and beautiful collections of paintings (Calvet Museum, Petit Palais Museum ...).
Arles
Art and History
1 hour from the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant, Arles, capital of the Camargue, welcomes you for a getaway under the sign of culture: walks in its alleys to discover its Roman and Romanesque monuments that make it a city inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the arenas, the ancient theater, the baths of Constantine, the Roman Circus, the Cryptoporticus of the Forum...
Marked by the presence of Van Gogh who stayed here, the city is home to the Van Gogh Foundation dedicated to the work of the painter. A few kilometers away, join the Camargue coast for moments of relaxation inland or by the sea.
At La Grande Motte, the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant offers you places on a private beach, to enjoy your privileged stay...
Aix-en-Provence
The elegant
There is a real sweetness of life in Aix-en-Provence: less than 2 hours from the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant, you can stroll along the chic Cours Mirabeau before taking the small picturesque streets and discovering squares full of charm, shops and monuments.
The city of 100 fountains, capital of Provence, displays an important cultural heritage, thanks to its museums, including the famous Granet Museum, its festivals and its theaters.
In the vicinity, we find the landscapes of the majestic Montagne Sainte-Victoire that seduced the impressionist painter Paul Cézanne and son of the country.
Marseille
Full of life!
Bubbling with its cultural life, land of a thousand-year-old history, splendid setting and landscapes... Marseille is an ultra-dynamic city that deserves a getaway less than 2 hours from the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant: stroll through the authentic districts of Le Panier and Noailles, walk along the picturesque Old Port, visit the cathedral of the Major with surprising architecture and climb to the Bonne-Mère which overlooks the city, enjoy a Bouillabaisse in a typical restaurant, visit the impressive Mucem and treat yourself to a moment on the beach...
A full day!
Diversity and cultural richness
From Nîmes to Avignon via Arles and Uzès, the Pays d'Uzège, Provence Gardoise (and its surroundings) is a real land of festivals and events that pay tribute to culture and celebration. Throughout the year, the appointments are important and some are famous all over the world:
- The Avignon Theatre Festival
- The Truffle Weekend in Uzès
- Uzès Dance and Music Festival
- The Chorégies d'Orange
- The Flamenco Festival in Nîmes `
- The Férias d'Arles
- The Photography meetings of Arles
- The Férias of Nîmes (June and September) ...
The region and the surrounding nature parks are also perfectly equipped for hiking (on foot or by mountain bike) on secure marked trails and paths.
A paradise for sportsmen and sportswomen
The Gard is a fantastic playground for sport lovers and those who dream of a dynamic holiday
- From Collias, several circuits offer you to discover the Pont du Gard and the Gorges du Gardon by canoe-kayak and for a touch of adrenaline: via Ferrata, canyoning, caving, climbing and adventure trails.
- The region and the surrounding nature parks are also perfectly equipped for hiking (on foot or by mountain bike) on marked trails and paths.
- Several golf courses in the vicinity (Nîmes Campagne and Vacquerolles, Uzès) offer a peaceful setting to learn this outdoor sport or improve, depending on your level.
The Gard Gourmand
It is a gourmet terroir par excellence, thanks to regional products and producers that transmit know-how and passion. Gourmet dishes that can be found on colorful markets or directly from producers for tastings.
Go to the Uzès market a few kilometers from the Château de Collias Hotel & Restaurant, every Saturday, one of the most beautiful in France, to find the unmissable dishes of the Gard: black truffles of Uzès, strawberries of Nîmes or Gariguette IGP, figs and cherries, olive oils, sweet onion of the Cevennes, meat of bull of Camargue...
Not to mention the renowned wines of the Gard, a major wine region with many AOP, AOC and IGP appellations and a great diversity of terroirs: Coteaux du Languedoc, Costières de Nîmes, Côtes du Rhône Village and the famous Pic Saint-Loup...
Enough to organize tasty getaways and weekends in the region to discover its cellars and estates in order to delight the epicureans who sleep in you !