Cycling near Uzès
The roads and tracks around the Gard are among the quietest cycling terrain in the south of France. Garrigue plateau, limestone gorges, almost no traffic.
By the hosts of La Valette Boutique, Gard
Jan-Willem & Fleur
La Valette Boutique
Sanilhac-Sagriès, 30700 Gard, France
The roads and tracks around the Gard are among the quietest cycling terrain in the south of France. Garrigue plateau, limestone gorges, almost no traffic.
By the hosts of La Valette Boutique, Gard
The countryside around Uzès suits cycling well: quiet roads, light traffic and varied terrain across garrigue, vineyard and river valley. The Pont du Gard is about 14 km from La Valette by road (around 20 km from Uzès town), roughly 45 to 60 minutes by bike; the greenway from Uzès is the route that keeps you away from traffic, and a longer loop is also detailed further down this page. Bike and e-bike hire is available in Uzès town centre. Several routes begin from Sanilhac-Sagriès, so check each one on Komoot before you go.
| Terrain | Garrigue plateau, limestone gorges, vineyard lanes, light traffic |
|---|---|
| Dedicated greenway | Uzès – Pont du Gard – Beaucaire greenway, about 31 km one way |
| Regional Nature Reserve | Gorges du Gardon, 491 hectares, partly in Sanilhac-Sagriès |
| Distance to Pont du Gard | About 14 km by road from La Valette (around 20 km from Uzès), 45 to 60 minutes cycling |
| Bike hire | Uzès town centre and Collias, including e-bikes |
| Fire-risk season | 15 June to 15 September, under prefectural order |
| Best months | April, May, June, September, October |
| Navigation | Komoot GPX tracks, IGN 1:25000 map |
Why this area
The Gard has no famous climbs, but something better: roads that go for thirty kilometres without a junction, garrigue scrubland that smells of wild thyme in the heat, gorges that most cyclists have never found, and terrain that suits every level.
From La Valette you reach the plateau roads within minutes. The plateau connects Uzès, the Pont du Gard and the Gorges du Gardon without touching a main road.
"Leave the house at 7h before the heat and take the plateau road east toward Collias."La Valette Boutique, the Gard
Dedicated cycle paths
The Uzès – Pont du Gard – Beaucaire greenway is the main dedicated cycle route in the area: a former railway line, largely away from traffic, with asphalt and gentle gradients. Suitable for families, with a few shared-road sections.
More distance options
Beyond the five routes above and the Voies Vertes, these loops come up often in local Komoot searches. Distances and times are approximate, since conditions and exact tracks vary.
Routes from the doorstep
All routes start from or near La Valette near Uzès. Road bike or hybrid unless marked gravel.
Practical information
Local operators have included Location Vélos Uzès (177 chemin du Pas du Loup), with e-bikes, road bikes and VTT; Échappée Belle Location, on rue Saint-Roman, which delivers e-bikes to your accommodation with roughly 75 km of range per charge; and Vélo Nature in Collias, an e-bike specialist well placed for routes into the gorge. Confirm current availability and pricing directly, since these details change.
From mid-June to mid-September, temperatures above 35°C are normal. Start before 8h, finish by noon. Two litres of water minimum for rides over 25 km.
Main roads are well-surfaced. Minor D-roads vary. Gravel tracks are firm limestone with good drainage, but check after heavy rain.
Plateau roads carry almost no traffic outside summer weekends. The road to Uzès is light. Avoid the N86 and N106 entirely.
Komoot has the most complete track data for this area. IGN 1:25000 covers all routes. Google Maps misses many of the best tracks.
There is no bicycle storage at the house. Arriving by train in Nîmes or Avignon with a bike? Let us know and we will help coordinate.
A prefectural order typically applies across the Gard from 15 June to 15 September, with four risk levels from white to red. At red, access to forest massifs is prohibited, cyclists included. Check the current prefectural fire-risk level for the Gard before riding in summer, since the affected zones can change from year to year.
The Gorges du Gardon have been a Regional Nature Reserve since 2007. Off-piste riding and use of the DFCI forest firebreak tracks are both prohibited inside it, so keep to the waymarked routes described on this page, including around Collias and the gorge rim. For walks on foot from the villages around Uzès, with distances and times from named sources and the summer fire-risk rules, see our walking guide.
Beyond the basics
Most of these rides end the same way: bikes back in the courtyard, a cold drink on the terrace, and nothing left to do but let the legs recover. After a morning on the plateau, that is usually worth more than the kilometres.
La Valette Boutique is five minutes from Uzès, with the plateau roads close by. There is no bicycle storage at the house.
Enquire about your datesYes. The countryside around Uzès is ideal for cycling: quiet roads, minimal traffic, varied terrain through garrigue, vineyard and river valley. Several routes depart directly from La Valette Boutique.
Yes. Bike hire, including e-bikes, is available in Uzès town centre and in Collias. See below for named local operators and what they offer.
The Pont du Gard is roughly 20 km by road from Uzès and about 14 km from La Valette, around 45 to 60 minutes by bike from the house. The greenway from Uzès keeps you off the main roads for much of the way; a longer loop route is described further down this page.
The Voie Verte Uzès – Pont du Gard – Beaucaire is a cycle route largely built on a former railway line, about 31 km one way according to Tourisme Gard, with about 10 km of dedicated path between Uzès and the Pont du Gard and some shared-road sections. It suits families and anyone who prefers not to share the road with traffic.
Local operators have included Location Vélos Uzès (177 chemin du Pas du Loup), renting e-bikes, road bikes and VTT; Échappée Belle Location, on rue Saint-Roman in Uzès, which delivers e-bikes directly to accommodation with roughly 75 km of range per charge; and Vélo Nature in Collias, an e-bike specialist well placed for routes into the Gorges du Gardon. Availability and pricing change, so confirm directly before your stay.
Yes, two ways. The direct road route from the La Valette area is about 14 km, roughly 45 to 60 minutes. Alternatively, the Uzès – Pont du Gard greenway approaches the monument largely away from traffic, so you arrive by bike rather than by car.
Only on marked routes. The Gorges du Gardon has been a Regional Nature Reserve since 2007, and riding off-piste or on the DFCI forest firebreak tracks is prohibited inside it. Stick to the waymarked cycling and gravel routes described on this page.
With precautions, yes. From mid-June to mid-September, temperatures above 35°C are normal by midday. Start before 8h, aim to finish by noon, and carry at least two litres of water for any ride over 25 km. Shade is limited on the garrigue plateau, so plan accordingly.
They can be. A prefectural order typically applies from 15 June to 15 September across the Gard, with four risk levels from white to red. At the red level, access to forest massifs, cyclists included, is prohibited. Check the current prefectural fire-risk level for the Gard before riding in summer, since the affected zones can change.
For a half day, the Uzège, Pont du Gard Loop covers roughly 37 to 40 km in about two hours at a steady pace and takes in the Pont du Gard. For a full day with more climbing, the Pont du Gard, Collias Loop is about 56 km and rated difficult, taking around three and a half hours of riding.
Yes, it is one of the best combinations in the area: ride down, lock the bike, and swim in the Gardon below the bridge. There is no lifeguard at the Pont du Gard or anywhere else on this stretch of river, and diving or jumping in is prohibited, so swim within your ability. See our full swimming guide for the other spots nearby.