Nestling at the heart of Gard Provence, the charming elevated village of La Roque-sur-Cèze is listed among the most beautiful villages of France and shows great architectural unity. To see this, just take a look at its castle ruins, the Romanesque chapel, the medieval bridge over the river Cèze, and the picturesque sloping, paved alleyways between pretty stone houses.

Not far from the village, don't forget to go and admire the listed site of the Sautadet waterfalls, which is very impressive with its giants' cauldrons!

Situated in the commune of Orgnac-l'Aven, close to the Ardèche gorges and the Cèze Valley, the Orgnac pothole, listed as a Great Site of France, will take you on a fabulous journey through an enchanting underground world...During the hour-long guided tour, admire its huge caves decorated with splendid concretions, its forest of "stacked plates" (stalagmites), its "palm trees" which can reach heights of 17 metres, and its majestic draperies. In the Red Room (Salle Rouge) at a depth of 121 metres, a completely enthralling sound and light show is a wonderful way to round off your exploration of the cave.

The museum called the Prehistoric City (Cité de la Préhistoire) present the archaeological heritage of Ardèche, as well as the everyday life of prehistoric humans, in a fun, interactive fashion.

At the outskirts of the picturesque village of Lussan, lovers of wild scenery will find the site of the Concluses, a remarkable natural area to say the least! The Concluses or gorges of the Aiguillon can only be reached on foot, during the summer period when the river bed is dry. Hikers will find a beautiful group of rocks reminiscent of a lunar landscape and dominated by tall cliffs with hollowed-out cavities.

Perched on top of a rocky peak, Aiguèze is a picturesque medieval village overlooking the entrance to the Ardèche gorges. Listed among the most beautiful villages of France, Aiguèze charms its visitors in a very special way, with its ruined fortress, its paved alleyways winding between beautiful houses, the church with its Renaissance door, and its little square sitting in the shade of the plane trees. The wall-walk at the foot of the fortress rock offers a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.

Belonging to the commune of Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche, the Saint-Marcel Cave, in the Bidon area at the entrance to the Ardèche gorges, will lead you into an enchanted world. During the guided hour-long tour, as you travel along a 600-metre long laid out path, you can admire its huge chambers such as the Fountain of the Virgin, the Painters' Gallery and the Kings' Table, its cascading pools and strange concretions!

Uzès, the first duchy of France, invites walkers and architecture-lovers to discover its old town, which is full of charm and rich in ancient heritage.

A blend of Medieval, Renaissance and classical styles, the duchy of Uzès – or ducal castle – is one of the flagship sites of the city. Visit this place steeped in history and discover the gothic chapel and its superb stained glass windows, the splendid Renaissance façade of the central building, the furnished apartments, the cellar and the Bermonde Tower, an imposing 11th century keep offering a wonderful view of the rooftops of the historic centre.

Discover Uzès peacefully, wandering through its alleyways, squares and monuments, including private mansions and the remarkable Romanesque Fenestrelle Tower, a relic of the old cathedral, which is notable for being the only example of a round bell tower in France!

Above all, don't miss the Place aux Herbes square and its beautiful arcade houses. Full of activity with its café terraces and restaurants, every Saturday a Provençal market takes place in this pleasant square, full of colours and flavours.

The medieval garden at the foot of the King's Tower is also worth a look, with a fine range of ancient vegetable varieties and medicinal plants.

Les Nuits Musicales d'Uzès, a well-known music festival, takes place in July, with venues including the ducal palace, Saint Théodorit cathedral and the bishop's palace courtyard.

32 kilometres of spectacular gorges in the heart of southern Ardèche! That is what lovers of grandiose landscapes can admire between Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche... It took more than a hundred million years for the waters of the famous Ardèche river to have hollowed out this deep canyon. The result is astonishing: an immense defile of limestone cliffs which can reach heights of 300 metres high, where the natural wilderness remains unspoilt...

The gateway to the gorges, the famous natural arch of the Pont d'Arc, is the ideal point of departure for making a descent of the Ardèche river by canoe-kayak. Many routes, ranging from the mini-descent of 8 kilometres to the long descent of 32 kilometres, are possible over one, two or three days. Heaven for canoeists and kayakers! Those looking for peace and tranquillity, however, should avoid going there in July and August, when the area is much visited by holidaymakers. At the foot of the Pont d'Arc, pleasant sandy beaches encourage lounging and bathing.

Leaving from the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, you can explore the Ardèche gorges' superb tourist trail, dotted with impressive, landscaped belvederes. There are splendid, incredible views to admire from the Serre de Tourre, the Cathédrale, the Balcon des Templiers or the Ranc-Pointu belvederes.

Listed as a Nature Reserve, the Ardèche gorges are dotted with signposted walks and are also suitable for rambling. A marvellous, immediate way to enjoy the beauty of nature in Ardèche!

The Madeleine Cave nestles on the left bank of the famous Ardèche gorges, 7 kilometres from the village of Saint-Remèze, and was discovered in 1887 by a shepherd who had a passion for subterranean adventures. From mid-March to mid-November, a guided tour which lasts an hour invites young and old to enter a magical, mysterious world, where they can see a succession of stalagmites and stalactites, huge draperies, and other splendid, grandiose concretions...The enchantment of the place is also emphasised wonderfully by a sound and light show.

Once you have left the Cave, head for the Madeleine belvedere, which offers superb panoramic views of the Ardèche gorges!

Situated in the commune of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, near the famous Pont d'Arc, which marks the entrance to the Ardèche gorges, the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc Cave, discovered in 1994 by three passionate speleologists, is a masterpiece of prehistoric cave paintings. This Palaeolithic decorated cave has an extraordinary bestiary on its walls, which display no fewer than 425 animal figures! Dating from the Aurignacian period, these paintings and engravings are amongst the oldest in the world...

To conserve this unique place, closed to the public since its discovery, a reconstruction area composed of five buildings, with a facsimile of the Chauvet cave and a permanent exhibition about the Aurignacians and cave painting, is open since 2015, at the Razal site in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.

One of the finest caves in France is tucked away in the Cévennes, at the edge of the departments of Gard and Ardèche - the Cocalière cave. Visitors can take an underground guided tour (lasting about an hour) to discover a splendid group of concretions: stalagmites, stalactites, discs, draperies and more. As well as these wonders, you can also see prehistoric objects and bones uncovered during digs. When the tour is over, visitors return to the starting point in the open air on board a small train through the scrub.

Not far from the hillside villages of Provençale Drôme, the town of Pierrelatte has Europe's biggest animal park dedicated to reptiles. The Crocodile Farm is home to 11 of the 23 crocodile species currently existing in the world. Today, nearly 400 live in the animal park. Among them are the famous Nile crocodiles and a particularly rare species: the Albino Mississippi alligator. There are indeed only twenty or so in the world, and two of them live in the park.

Discover the trail created in a tropical glasshouse, where the temperature is around 30 degrees. Its explanation signs tell visitors all about how the various crocodile species live. A listed botanical garden, this glasshouse contains over 600 exotic plant species.

The Crocodile Farm is also home to other reptiles such as giant tortoises, varans, iguanas, anacondas and pythons. It also has fish and tropical birds. An ideal place for a fun and educational day out with the family!

A masterpiece of Antiquity and nowadays a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site, the Pont du Gard bridge was built in the 1st century to channel water from the Eure springs near Uzès to Nîmes, and has stood the test of time remarkably well. This impressive Roman aqueduct bridge over the waters of the river Gardon has three storeys of arches and forms a magnificent symbiosis with its lush green setting. On the left bank of the Gardon stands a very interesting museum dedicated to water, Gallo-Roman civilisation and the famous work of art, to complete your visit.

The City of Popes from 1309 to 1376, Avignon in the department of Vaucluse is a town steeped in history. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO and its old town has kept some impressive reminders of its past! Protected by ramparts, it includes the emblem of the city: the Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes). Open to visitors, this superb Gothic monument dates back to the 14th century and consists of the old palace of Benedict XII, built between 1334 and 1342, and the new palace of Clement VI, built between 1342 and 1352. The Palace's vast square is also surrounded by other prestigious buildings like the Small Palace (Petit Palais), which is in fact the former residence of the archbishops. Built between the 14th and 18th centuries, this elegant building of almost 3,000 m² now houses a museum that exhibits Italian paintings from the 13th to 16th centuries, such as Botticelli's Madonna and Child, as well as Romanesque and Gothic sculptures. You can also admire the former Mint (Hôtel des Monnaies), with its beautiful 17th-century Baroque façade featuring eagles and dragons. Then visit Avignon Cathedral (Notre-Dame-des-Doms), built in the 12th century and remodelled in the 15th and 17th centuries. An example of the Provençal Romanesque style, it contains a magnificent Romanesque cupola, a white marble bishop's seat, and the Gothic tombs of Popes John XXII and Benedict XII. Outside, look up to see the huge, gilded statue of the Virgin Mary at the top of the bell tower.

Then wander through the medieval streets to admire the period houses, Renaissance mansions and old town squares. You are sure to find your way to Rue des Teinturiers, a picturesque pedestrian street paved with pebbles. The busy Rue de la République connects the ramparts to the plane tree-shaded Place de l'Horloge, the lively heart of the town with its many cafés and restaurants. Here you can see the Neo-Classical façade of the 19th-century town hall and its clock tower, a former 14th-century belfry with a jacquemart clock.

It's worth taking some time to admire the many buildings you will come across on your walk. These include the Basilica of St. Peter, with Renaissance door leaves on its façade, 17th-century woodwork in the choir and a 15th-century pulpit making it well worth a visit. Also be sure not to miss the night-time illuminations that transform the building into a sublime spectacle during the Hélios festival in summer. The Gothic Collegiate Church of St. Didier has a beautiful 15th-century carved altarpiece depicting Christ Carrying the Cross. On Place des Carmes, the last vestige of an old convent is the Augustins bell tower, with a wrought iron campanile on top. In the church, the painted wooden statues date from the 16th century.

Don't forget to take a walk to the top of the Doms Rock, where the town's origins lie. The lovely garden there is ideal for a rest in the shade and offers superb views of the Alpilles, the Rhône and the unmissable Pont d'Avignon bridge. Made famous by the well-known folk song and also known as the Pont Saint-Bénézet, this medieval bridge used to connect the town with Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, 900 metres away. Although part of it was destroyed by the Rhône's repeated floods, it still has four arches and two superimposed chapels left. An exhibition space called "Le pont retrouvé" and touch screen tablets will help you discover a side of this iconic monument that you've never seen before!

Art-lovers have a number of museums to choose from: the Calvet Museum, which exhibits collections of fine and decorative arts and ethnography; the Lapidary Museum, which focuses on archaeology; the Louis Vouland Museum, with its prestigious collection of furniture and objects from the 17th and 18th centuries, and works by Provençal artists from the 19th and 20th centuries; and the Angladon Museum, which houses a remarkable collection of modern art.

South-east of Montélimar, in a landscape of lavender, vines, pines and oaks, stands the famous Grignan Castle. Built on a rocky promontory at the heart of Provençale Drôme, it's the biggest Renaissance castle in South-East France! Made famous by the Marquise de Sévigné through her correspondence with her daughter, it has a turbulent history.

A castle fort in the 11th century, the Adhémar family converted it into a splendid holiday residence during the Renaissance. It was dismantled during the Revolution then rebuilt at the start of the last century. From the reception rooms to the private apartments, the rooms in Grignan Castle are sumptuously furnished and decorated. During your visit, you will be able to admire some beautiful wood panelling, particularly in the prestigious Adhémar gallery, majestic fireplaces, paintings, tapestries and a number of works of art.

Outside, a magnificent view of North Provence awaits you from the castle's famous terraces!

Take the perfectly restored wall walk to reach the 16th-century Collegiate Church of St. Saviour, located downhill from the ramparts. This is where the Marquise de Sévigné's tomb is located. This path also leads to an old washhouse in the Neo-Classical style, heavily inspired by the Temple of Love at the Petit Trianon in Versailles.

The area around Grignan Castle is also well worth a look. Make your way through the village's charming narrow streets adorned with flowers. On one of them, you can see some beautiful old houses, along with a belfry built in the 13th and 17th centuries.

As a City of Art and History, Nîmes is renowned for its ancient heritage and its especially festive southern atmosphere. The Roman amphitheatre is remarkably well-preserved and dates from the late 1st century and early 2nd century. It is 133 metres long and 101 metres wide and can hold up to 24,000 spectators! These vast arenas are open to visitors and shows are regularly held there, most notably the famous bullfights and Camargue bull runs.

Another flagship monument of the city of Nîmes is the Maison Carrée, a superb Roman temple from the late 1st century, with its columns topped with Corinthian capitals. Opposite the Maison Carrée stands the Carré d'Art, a modern building housing a Contemporary Art Museum. The city of Nîmes also has a Fine Arts Museum displaying French and foreign paintings from the 14th to the 19th century.

As well as these many attractions, don't miss the Jardin de la Fontaine, a marvellous romantic park listed as a Remarkable Garden, developed in the 18th century around the Nemausus spring and the ancient ruins of the Temple of Diana and Magne Tower. Enjoy a most restful stroll through the grounds and discover a French-style garden in the lower section, and a series of Mediterranean plants, pines and cedars in the upper section. From the Magne Tower at the top of Mount Cavalier, the view of the rooftops of the city is superb!

Before leaving Gard's capital, be sure to take a walk in the picturesque alleyways of the old city and enjoy a drink on one of its pretty town squares, such as the Place du Marché, Place aux Herbes or Place de l'Horloge squares.

As for events, the Pentecost Feria in May is a big five-day celebration where the bull is king. Apart from its bullfights, the Nîmes Feria is also a chance to celebrate with music to the rhythm of the bandas in the streets of the city centre.