Chateau Empire

Château Empire can be found in a charming village, only a 5km drive from the historic town of Uzès, in the Gard department of southern France, under an hour from the airports of Nîmes and Avignon.

The village is full of character with pretty lanes, old houses, a café and small shop as well as a church and mairie, ideal if you are planning your wedding here. You are also very close to beautiful Uzès – head there on a Saturday morning for the bustling market in the heart of the old town and discover the town’s many restaurants, cafes and bars. There’s an air of authenticity across the town and the historic buildings have been beautifully preserved – climb to the top of the Bermonde Tower, part of the Duchy of Uzès, for wonderful views of the town and surrounding countryside. Uzès is now a designated ville d’art and visitors come to admire its history and charm.

Drive just fifteen minutes south and you will reach one of the region’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, the magnificent Pont du Gard. This Roman aqueduct is one of France’s most visited historic monuments – head there with a picnic to enjoy by the banks of the Gard river and there are also opportunities to hire canoes and kayaks in this spectacular setting.

Lovers of Roman history will also adore Nîmes, especially the Maison Carrée, one of France’s best preserved temples, and the amazing amphitheatre, Les Arènes. It’s also a great city for lovers of French food with excellent restaurants and a fantastic indoor market. Look out for exhibitions at the contemporary Carré d'Art and make sure you visit the Jardin de La Fontaine, just outside the city centre.

Another highlight of this area are the Gorges du Gardon, wonderful for walking (including a trail through the Sainte-Baume cave!), swimming and canoeing excursions, some of which include the Pont du Gard. There’s some superb rock-climbing and mountain bike trails through the nature reserve.

Avignon (40km) is also easily visited in a day with its vibrant markets and historic monuments including the Palais des Papes and Pont d'Avignon, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. South of Avignon, visit some of the idyllic towns and villages in Provence’s Les Alpilles region such as Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (54km) and Les Baux-de-Provence (55km).  

Wine-lovers can explore the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône to the east with Châteauneuf-du-Pape only a 45-minute drive away or discover charming wineries closer to home in Uzès.

Read more about Uzes

The beautiful market town of Uzès is somewhat of a secret gem in southern France. Staying close to Uzès allows you to embrace the region’s traditional ambience, rich heritage, artistic vibe and wonderful cuisine, not to mention the idyllic surroundings of medieval villages, forests, olive groves and Côte du Rhône vineyards.

There’s no better place to start off than Place aux Herbes in the heart of Uzès with its café and restaurant terraces, shady plane trees and historic ambience – it is said to be one of the most beautiful squares in southern France. It is also home to a fantastic market on a Wednesday and Saturday morning when traders take over Uzès’ iconic main square to showcase a wealth of delightful products. This is the perfect opportunity to buy specialities of the region – look out for pélardon goats cheese from the mountains, Cévennes honey, sweet onions, local olive oil, cod brandade de Nîmes, Camargue rice as well as so many seasonal fruit and vegetables. The market on Place aux Herbes dates back to the 13th century.

Uzès is also so loved for its historic lanes, elegant architecture, art galleries, inviting shops and excellent restaurants. Admire Cathédrale Saint-Théodorit d'Uzès and its unique round bell tower, visit the impressive Duché d’Uzès, then climb to the top of the medieval garden’s Tour du Roi for panoramic vistas. For a change of scene, just outside the town is La vallée de l'Eure for walking and hiking in glorious nature.

Of course, another great highlight of this region is the Pont du Gard, a grand symbol of Roman engineering and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a guided tour of this magnificent monument, follow the walking trail by the river, canoe beneath the aqueduct and enjoy atmospheric light shows on summer evenings.

Spend time pottering around picturesque French villages such as perched La Roque-sur-Cèze surrounded by vineyards, authentic Saint-Victor-la-Coste with its fortified château ruins and tiny Pouzilhac with its old ochre houses and cobblestone streets. Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie is just north of Uzès, the ceramics capital of France and home to enchanting lanes, pottery studios, galleries and La Musée de la Poterie Méditerranéenne.

Meanwhile, discover the many wineries and vineyards close to Uzès, part of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine growing region. From family-run estates and organic vineyards to large cooperatives, learn all about the great wines of the Pays d’Uzès and Côtes du Rhône.