La Valette Boutique
Sanilhac-Sagriès, 30700 Gard, France
The countryside around Uzès is garrigue scrub, shaded river valley and limestone hills, with a waymarked trail starting in Sanilhac, in the same commune as the house. For the Gardon gorge itself, see our Collias guide.
The best nature near Uzès is the garrigue plateau and the Eure valley at the edge of town, with waymarked walks from Sanilhac-Sagriès; the Gorges du Gardon, a limestone canyon and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 12 to 21 minutes away, add the biggest landscape. You can start walking in Sanilhac-Sagriès on the 6 km Sentier de la Baume, or drive to Collias or Sainte-Anastasie for gorge loops of 5 to 11 km. Some gorge sectors are closed from 15 January to 30 June for nesting eagles, and forest access is restricted when the wildfire risk is high in summer. Note: the Sentier de la Baume is closed at present (rockfall, 5 Oct 2026).
| Place | From La Valette | What to do there |
|---|---|---|
| Sentier de la Baume, Sanilhac-Sagriès | Starts in Sanilhac | Waymarked loop of about 6 km, roughly 2.5 hours, 265 m of climbing |
| Eure valley, Uzès | About 5 min | Flat shaded walks to the source of the Roman aqueduct, loops of about 6.6 km |
| Collias and the gorge | About 12 min | Kayak to the Pont du Gard, swimming, a 10.7 km hiking circuit |
| Pont Saint-Nicolas and Castellas, Sainte-Anastasie | About 21 min | Loops of 5.6 to 5.8 km, a medieval bridge, a wild river beach |
The gorges
The Gardon has cut a limestone canyon of about 29 km, according to the local tourist office, with cliffs rising to around 100 metres. It has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015 (a different designation from World Heritage). Inside it, a Regional Nature Reserve of 491 hectares was classified on 24 April 2007, partly within Sanilhac-Sagriès, the commune where La Valette stands.
Collias is the main access point, about 12 minutes from La Valette. The kayak route from Collias to the Pont du Gard is 8 km and takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours; our Collias and Gorges du Gardon guide has the operators, indicative prices and seasons.
Walking from the village
The Sentier de la Baume starts in Sanilhac, in the same commune as the house, from the town hall square. It is a loop of about 6 km that takes roughly 2.5 hours and climbs about 265 metres, following yellow short-hike waymarks and part of the red and white GR6 through the garrigue towards a viewpoint over the gorge. The climb is steep and rocky in places with little shade, so in summer go early. Note: the Sentier de la Baume is closed. Closed since 5 Oct 2026: after a rockfall the mayor banned access to the Baume Saint-Vérédème (chapel, cave and path). We found no reopening date; check with the Sanilhac-Sagriès town hall before you go.
On the same square, the Maison de la Réserve Naturelle Régionale is a free exhibition about the reserve. It typically opens Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00, from mid-April to mid-September. Confirm current dates with the tourist office or the town hall.
Longer routes
Distances and times below are approximate and vary between route variants and sources. The IGN map 2941 OT (Uzès, Remoulins, Pont du Gard) covers the area. 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.
Closures and rules
Three sectors of the gorge, in Sainte-Anastasie, Sanilhac-Sagriès and Collias (328 hectares in all), are covered by a prefectural biotope protection order that protects Bonelli's eagle nesting sites. From 15 January to 30 June, access to these sectors is prohibited, although passage along the river remains possible for paddlers. Climbing is prohibited inside them. Collias-specific access, kayak season and the full closure rules are in our Collias guide.
Inside the Regional Nature Reserve, stay on waymarked paths: off-piste walking and the DFCI forest firebreak tracks are prohibited, as are bivouacking, climbing, picking plants and letting dogs run loose.
In summer, 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, walkers included. Check the level for the day before you leave, never light a fire, and do not rely on a fixed list of zones: they change.
Eure valley and hills
At the edge of Uzès, the Fontaine d'Eure is the source of the Roman aqueduct that carried water about 50 km to Nîmes by way of the Pont du Gard. The valley is shaded by plane trees, and marked loops of around 6.6 km take about two hours: the easiest walks in this guide.
Further north, Mont Bouquet rises to 629 m. The classic hike from Seynes is about 9 km there and back with roughly 450 m of climbing (around 3.5 hours), with views towards the Cévennes, the Rhône valley and Mont Ventoux. We have not timed the drive from La Valette.
Water and seasons
The Gardon is swimmable from roughly June to September, with water typically around 18 to 21 degrees in high summer. There is no lifeguard, diving and jumping are prohibited, and Vigicrues should be checked after rain. Spots and safety details are in our swimming guide.
The best months for walking are April to June and September to October. In July and August go early or in the last hour before sunset, and carry plenty of water. In autumn and winter, hunting takes place in parts of the garrigue, so look for local notices. In autumn the vines of the Duché d'Uzès appellation turn gold and red.
The main ones are the Gorges du Gardon (a limestone canyon 12 to 21 minutes from La Valette depending on the trailhead, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015), the garrigue plateau of thyme, rosemary and holm oak, the Eure valley at the edge of Uzès and, further north, Mont Bouquet at 629 m.
Yes. The Sentier de la Baume starts in Sanilhac, in the same commune as the house: a waymarked loop of about 6 km, roughly 2.5 hours, with about 265 m of climbing. In Uzès, 5 minutes away, the Eure valley offers flat walks of around 6.6 km. Note: the Sentier de la Baume is closed. Closed since 5 Oct 2026: after a rockfall the mayor banned access to the Baume Saint-Vérédème (chapel, cave and path). We found no reopening date; check with the Sanilhac-Sagriès town hall before you go.
Named routes, with approximate figures: the Sentier de la Baume from Sanilhac-Sagriès (about 6 km, 2.5 hours); the Pont Saint-Nicolas de Campagnac loop from Sainte-Anastasie (5.8 km, about 2 hours, easy); the Castellas de Russan loop (5.6 km, about 2 hours 25, moderate); and the Collias circuit (10.7 km, about 4 hours, moderate). Figures vary slightly between sources. Note: the Sentier de la Baume is closed. Closed since 5 Oct 2026: after a rockfall the mayor banned access to the Baume Saint-Vérédème (chapel, cave and path). We found no reopening date; check with the Sanilhac-Sagriès town hall before you go.
Yes, from roughly June to September. The water is typically 18 to 21 degrees in high summer, and the bathing water at the Vers-Pont-du-Gard and Collias monitoring points is rated Excellent under EU standards. There is no lifeguard and diving or jumping is prohibited. Check Vigicrues before swimming after rain.
Yes, with preparation. The garrigue is open scrubland with little shade, so carry water, wear sun protection and start early in summer. Check the wildfire level before any walk between mid-June and mid-September, stay on waymarked paths, and note that hunting takes place in parts of the garrigue in autumn and winter.
Seasonally, yes. Three sectors of the gorge (328 hectares, in Sainte-Anastasie, Sanilhac-Sagriès and Collias) are closed from 15 January to 30 June to protect Bonelli's eagle nests, although passage along the river remains possible for canoes. Climbing is prohibited inside the protected areas.
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, walkers included. Check the level for the day before you leave; zones change, so we do not list them.
April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months. In July and August walk early or in the last hour before sunset. The eagle sectors stay closed until 30 June.
Yes. The route is 8 km and takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours. Operators such as Kayak Vert, BMG Canoë-Kayak and Canoë Collias rent boats and shuttle you back. Indicative price is around 27 euros for an adult; confirm current rates and season with the operator.
No. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, designated in 2015, which is a different designation. Inside it, a 491-hectare Regional Nature Reserve was classified on 24 April 2007.
La Valette Boutique is an 18th-century limestone house in Sanilhac-Sagriès with three self-catering units: La Petite Valette (sleeps 2), La Grande Valette (sleeps 4) and La Maison, the whole house (sleeps 6). Uzès is 5 minutes away, the Pont du Gard 15, and the Gorges du Gardon 12 to 21. Book direct, with no platform fees.
Enquire about your dates