Anyone been to Uzes?
 

Am still waffling between Burgundy and the South of France. I'm intrigued by Uzes and this hotel www.hoteldentraigues.com/frameuk.htm
Sounds like a good place to roost and take daytrips to Arles, Avignon, Nimes, and Aix (all of which I've visited, with the exception of Nimes.) Anyone know about Uzes?

Been there many times. Great town - beautiful architecture. And a good location for visitng all of the places you mentioned with the exception of Aix, which will involve a bit more of a drive.

Can't help you with the hotel, however.

-Kevin

We have been several times. There is a fabulous Saturday market with lots of pottery. We did stay at that hotel, very nice except they cancelled our dinner without telling us because of booking a wedding but that turned out to be great and ate at a wonderful place, Les Trois Salons. I wrote about it on my trip report last year.

Thanks to both of you! I will look for your trip report, cigalechanta.

A third thumbs up for Uzes, just beautiful architecture, as kevin says, and like cigale we enjoyed the busy Sat. market. Very easy trip to Pont du Gard from there. We made a day trip from Les Baux to P du G and Uzes. Also an easy drive from Uzes to Nimes. I'd love to return to spend several nights someday.

While I can't help you with the hotel, I'll give another vote for Uzes. It's an absolutely lovely town with a fabulous chateau open for tours (French only). Climb up to the top of the walls of the chateau for a wonderful view. IMHO, the scenery around Uzes isn't as lovely as the Alpilles area but I loved Uzes just the same. It's not as overun with tourists as the more popular areas just east of the Rhone. Consider buying a picnic, renting a boat & paddling down the crystal clear river under the Pont du Gard.

Have a great time wherever you go.

Another vote for Uzès here. I love this town and have been recommending it for years. I can't tell you anything about the hotel either... since i live only 40 minutes away, I've never stayed in one there.

I love visiting the Medieval Garden... they give a great tour which is fascinating. The nearby village of St. Quentin de Poterie is fun to visit as well, and the countryside is beautiful.

Patricia

Cimbrone, we've stayed there for a total of four weeks over the past several years. I love Uzes, and yes, as others have pointed out, it is well located for excursions to Pont du Gard, Arles, Les Baux, Nimes, Aigues-Mortes, St-Remy, Avignon, and les Alpilles, just to name a few.

Some of the most pleasant hours of my life have been spent sipping wine under the plane trees in the city square. There are markets on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; it's truly a delightful place.

How long would you be there? If you're thinking of staying a week, I can suggest a house that we have rented on two occasions.

Anselm

Another vote for Uzes. We didn't expect to visit, but took a turn on way to Nimes and glad we did. It's a gem. One of the few cathedrals that had light flowing in the windows... and great organ!

Of all the daytrips you mention, Aix is a bit out of the way - diagonally opposite from Uzes. The others are easy.

Thanks to you all! With the unanimous raves about Uzes, I think I've made my decision. Churches, markets, plane trees, and that Mediterranean light...it sounds like heaven.

Anselm, thanks for the offer. I think our stay will be more like five days and then off to our friend near Grenoble. Still, I wouldn't mind a link if you have one.

Hi Cimbrone,

I'm two days away from my bookmarks back in Halifax. I'll be home Monday evening and will post the link to the house on this thread no later than Tuesday morning.

Congratulations on choosing Uzes. I think you'll love it.

Anselm

I don't think you'll regret your choice...
while you're there, don't miss the Pont du Gard (only 15 minutes away) and the perched village of Castillon du Gard nearby.

Patricia

Anselm,
Lucky you!
I would love to know about your rental as well. My friends and I, who rented a villa btwn. St. Remy and Les Baux last summer would love to spend a week exploring that area of the Gard from Uzès.

Cimbrone,
I saved a large article about lodging and dining in the Pays d'Uzès from the French Saveurs magazine hopping to use it some day.

It recommends for dining
"La Table de l'Horloge" in Saint-Quetin-la-Poterie
"Le Fou du roi" in Pougnadoresse
"L'Authentic" in Saint-Siffret
"L'Amphitryon" in Castillon-du-Gard
"Les Trois Salons" (which gets a 15 and heart from Gault Millau), "l'Atelier Gourmand" (new in '03) and "Le Bistrot du Grèzac" in Uzès.

For lodging it features "Villa des Bains" in Uzès.
http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/l...rd/villa-bains

and in nearby Saint-Maximin "Le Château de Saint-Maximin"
www.chateaustmaximin.com
www.chateauxhotels.com

in Collias the "Hostellerie le Castellas"
www.lecastellas.com

just outside of Uzès, "Château d'Arpaillargues"
www.chateaudarpaillargues.com

also on the road to Arpaillargues '"Le Manoir des Sources"
www.manoirdessources.fr

Forgot to mention, the Roman theater of Orange and the wine towns of Tavel and Châuteauneuf-du-Pap are also easy day trips from Uzès.
The town holds a modern dance festival from June 10-24 and a Festival des Nuits Musicales, classical music festival from July 15-31.
www.uzes-tourisme.com

From that list: We love the Grézac for lunch on the sidewalk to people watch and have wonderful oysters, moules and other fares.It was recommended to us by the charming man who owns the La Maison de la Truffe on the Place de la Herbes.
Trois Salons was special.

Thanks to each of you for your kind suggestions. This thread will be coming with me!

Cimbrone,
Forgot to mention that the Château d'Arpaillargues is also recommended in the Gault Millau, both as a lodging and dining choice, with prix fixe menus from 26-45€

And le Pudlo guide says that the "good table of the moment in the heart of Uzès" is "Au Fil de 'Eau" on 10 Place Dampmartin. The Bottin Gourmand guide agrees.

You probably know this quite well, but the Hotel d'Entraigues is a selection in the Alistair Sawday's Special Places to Stay/France.
www.specialsplacestostay.com

I can hardly wait to return!

Cimbrone and Maribel, here's the link. It's property number 858 on www.frenchconnections.co.uk

We rented it for a week in 2002 and for two weeks in 2004. It's a cosy place for two, only steps from Place des Herbes. If you'd like to know anything else about it, just ask.

Anselm

Anselm,
Thanks so much! It's very, very well priced. Are there ceiling fans? This would be for a late June rental. Our house in St, Rémy did have ceiling fans, which made that hot, hot Provençal summer weather a bit more bearable.

Thanks again.

Maribel, it is a very reasonable price, but you do have to pay a supplement for linens. I’ve forgotten how much that was, but it didn’t strike us as expensive. And, unlike most rentals, there was a choice of cleaning the place up on departure or paying an additional cleaning fee. We cleaned.

I don’t think there were ceiling fans when we were there, but our visits were in September and May, so we weren’t really looking for them. It certainly could be an issue in June, although there are huge trees just outside that shade the south-facing windows. Some of the places we’ve rented over the years supply portable electric fans, but neither my wife nor I can remember whether there were any there.

The owner (his name is on that listing) is, I gather, an English architect who renovated this house, and he now lives in another house immediately behind the rental. We found him very easy to deal with.

My wife describes this place as being “a bit minimalist.” The kitchen and dining table are on the ground floor, with a large window letting on to the pedestrian street. There is a steep flight of stairs to the second floor sitting room, where there was a couch, chair, bookcase, and desk. There is another tall window here overlooking the street. Another flight of steep stairs takes you up to the bedroom, a low-ceilinged cosy retreat with a large bathroom with a big tub and a separate shower. There is a closet off the bedroom with a washer, dryer, and ironing board. We found the owner’s choice of colours subtle and appealing.

Its location may be hard to picture. It stands on a pedestrian laneway that is elevated above the street below. If there is any disadvantage to this, it is that the street below is part of that boulevard that circles Uzès. You will hear traffic noise, something that doesn’t bother me too much, but might disconcert some. It is otherwise ideal—there are some excellent bakeries and butchers in Uzès, and the seductive charms of Place des Herbes--lovely cafés and the twice-weekly market--are within crawling distance. So is Bistro du Grezac; like cigalechanta, we have enjoyed that lively place.

I'm going to see if I can winkle out some of our photos of the house. If I can find any, I'll put them on PBase and re-post here with a link.

Anselm

Thanks, Anselm, for the link. It looks terrific.

In any case, I think a hotel with a pool might work better for our trip. But I will certainly keep it in mind.

I'm very excited about this trip, Anselm. Now I will get to return to St. Trophime, a church we are both fond of, if I remember correctly :)

Hi

I quite often take visitors on a round trip including Uzes Pont du Gard and Nimes.

We often take lunch in the Uzes medieval square.

I've never stayed in Uzes.

Some friends regularly eat at the Chateau d'Arpillargues.

I've got some restaurant reviews from Uzes here : http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/to...estaurants.htm

Peter

Cimbrone:

I took a quick look through my Uzès folder and am adding a bit more info that I don't think has been covered:

Things to do & shopping:

• Just outside of town, on the route de Remoulins, take a tour of the Haribo Candy factory…. They don’t just make gummy bears

• Train and Toy Museum at the Moulin de Chalier

• Visit the Pottery museum at Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie

• The Château de Bosc near the Pont du Gard and its bicycle museum

For "gourmandises" in town:

Jérome Dance
9, place aux Herbes
Delicious breads and pastries

Le Garde Manger
8, rue de la République
Every kind of local goat cheese

Nougatine
23, boulevard Gambetta and 10, rue de la République
Pastries, cookies and especially nougat, calissons and traditional pastries

L’Atelier de Pascaline
18, rue Jacques-d’Uzès
Honey, local olive oils, herbs and homemade jams

La Cave du Suisse d’Alger
112, rue de la République
An amazing choice of wines, chosen with fervor by the owner.

Peter, thanks for the link to the restaurant reviews. I must have missed that feature in the past.

Cimbrone, yes, we share a fondness for St-Trophime. If you haven't been to the cloisters, I'd recommend a visit. It's a tranquil spot, and don't be surprised if you feel like you have stepped back 800 years in time. The entry is just to the right of the church doors.

I looked for our 2004 photos of the house in Uzès and came up empty. Odd.

Anselm

Thumbs up for the hotel. I stayed there for a few nights a few weeks ago and had a lovely stay. Helpful and friendly staff. An amazing rambling building (or 5 joined into one) and great location. I also found great antique shops if that tickles your fancy- some of the objects were amazing. The restaurant was closed for repairs when I was there but looked like a lovely setting. Parking available directly opposite in the cathedral grounds (pay per day) or in the hotel car park (limited spaces).

I stayed a couple days in Uzes a couple years ago, and stayed at the Entraigues. Uzes was a pleasant town to walk around and I enjoyed seeing the chateau. I don't know that I would consider it a good base for some of the places you mention, though, as there are more central places (and ones with train stations).

The Entraigues was a convenient location, and an adequate hotel but I didn't personally care for it that much and wouldn't stay there again. The room was decorated nicely and the staff were nice, but the bed
s mattress was cheap foam and that is completely unacceptable to me in a 3* hotel. Also, they did NOT have air conditioning even though their website says they do, and it was 90 or more in my room and difficult to sleep. Also quite noisy. I wouldn't stay there again. I don't know when you are going, but if in summer, check on the AC thing (I think they have some rooms with it and some without, even though the website does not say that).

Maybe you were there before they had good mattresses. Ours was fine. That's one thing my husband would complain about. Our room was very quiet. I don't remember about AC as we never use it. And there isn't the humidity as there is here in Boston. That's why most homes have shutters to keep the sun out.
And as Kevin stated. a good stop to visit all the places except Aix.

Yes, the chorus continues - Uzes is an exceptional town, meme for Provence! But it's only a great base for motorists, if taking public transport chose another place.

Yes, charming town and surroundings. Has a lovely bunch of potters.

Great additional info, everyone!

Christina, I saw your review on Tripadvisor, if I'm not mistaken. You and a few of the others did seem to have issues with the hotel. A pretty mixed bag on tripadvisor over all. If I can be sure of airconditioning, I will probably chance it.

I did also come across this place which also seems appealing. Different in that its 7 km from Uzes, in a small village. Any thoughts?
http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/b...nce/la-maison/

Anselm, I will definitely see the cloister this time. I think I tried to save a few Euro on my last visit and skipped it, so I look forward to making up for this lapse in judgement!

It looks lovely.
Stu Dudley has stayed several times at the Entraigues.
As Andre Gides father wrote: "O Little Town of Uzes were you Umbria, Parisians would flock to you."

Cimbrone,
In the article I referred to above, La Maison in Blauzac, and it's featured in the Alistair Sawday guide, Special Places to Stay/France.

Maribel--I just now took the time to look at the accomodations for which you provided links. How gorgeous! Decisions, decisions...

pontoon--antiques shops??? On top of everything else? Sounds to good to be true.

Maribel, I loved the chateau site with my "relatives" singing :)

Hi cigale,
Doesn't it look great? The lodging around Uzès looks as inviting, even more so to me, than the in-town lodging. A very difficult decision, but this has grown into a great informational thread for anyone considering this part of the Gard. I'm keeping this one for future reference.

Both the Château d'Arpaillargues and the Château de Saint-Maximin get nice reviews in the '06 Gault Millau.

The Bottin Gourmand recommends the C. d'Arpaillargues marie d'Agoult (full name)
It's also on the web site
www.leshotelsparticuliers.com
along with the General d'Entraigues

The prix fixe menus at the d'Arpaillargues run 26-45 and those at the Saint-Maximin run 45-52.

I cannot improve upon the info given in all these posts, though I endorse Uzes wholeheartedly as a destination.. We spent a week in Uzes last October (and loved it). As well, we had lunch there just over a week ago (Bistrot de Grezac -- where else would you go for lunch?), wandered around our old haunts and shopped in the main square, all under heavenly sunshine (relished all the more as there has ben so little back home in eastern Ontario this Autumn).

It's the Manoir des Sources that I'm now find captivating. I'm a sucker for beautiful grounds. Seems the quintescence of Romance. And being only 3 kms from Uzes, it would provide the best of both worlds.

I have to rely on my spouse for the specifics of this recommendation.

We were staying nearby, near Arpaillargues (at the lovely B&B Mas de Luna). We passed the Mas de la Source every day and decided finally to check it out.

Spousal report: WHAT a place -- chic, luxurious, indeed "beyond the dreams of avarice". Next time!

Tegdale--is it mas de la source or manoir des sources? I can only find the latter. I just want to be sure it's the same one you mean. Thanks.

Sorry, I typed sloppily and you are correct -- it is manoir