Quick answer
Saint-Gilles is about 44 km from Uzès, 46 to 57 minutes by car depending on the route planner. There is no direct bus: public transport takes about two hours forty with changes. The abbey church, its crypt and the spiral staircase are the reason to go; guided visits are run by the tourist office.
Good for: a half day of history, or an extra stop on a day to Arles or the Camargue.
Not for: a beach or nature day; for those see Le Grau-du-Roi or the Camargue.
Saint-Gilles is a small Gard town on the way to the Camargue, known for its abbey church, a stage on the pilgrim roads to Santiago de Compostela. It fits well with Arles, Aigues-Mortes and the Camargue or Le Grau-du-Roi, all in the same direction.
| What | What to know | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Drive from Uzès | About 44 km and 46 minutes by Rome2Rio; another planner gives 49.7 km and 57 minutes by the Nîmes road. By public transport there is no direct bus: about two hours forty with changes. La Valette is five minutes from Uzès. | A live map on the day. |
| The abbey church | Listed by UNESCO since 1998 as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, the façade above all. The visitor desk is on the Place de la République. | Days and hours: the tourist office; the pages we found are from different years. |
| Crypt and spiral staircase | The crypt holds the tomb of Saint Gilles. The spiral staircase, the "vis", is reached from the former choir. The tourist office runs guided visits, and the ticket for them includes both. | Visit days and times, and whether to book. We state no price. |
| Market and meals | We did not find the weekly market day, so we do not state one. | The market day and lunch places: the tourist office or the town hall. |
Visiting
The façade, then the crypt
Start with the façade on the Place de la République, then join a guided visit for the crypt and the spiral staircase. Visit days are limited in some seasons, so ask the tourist office for the day you plan to come before you drive.
Combine
Add Arles or the sea
Saint-Gilles takes a morning, so it pairs with Arles for a day of history, with Aigues-Mortes and the Camargue for the walled town and the salt flats, or with Le Grau-du-Roi for the beach.
Frequently asked
A day in Saint-Gilles
About 44 km and 46 minutes by car by Rome2Rio; another route planner gives 49.7 km and 57 minutes. Without a car it takes about two hours forty with changes.
It has been listed since 1998 as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France; the façade is the part most often cited. The town was a stage for pilgrims on those routes.
The tourist office offers guided visits of the crypt and the spiral staircase on set days and times, which change by season. We do not state days, hours or prices, so ask the tourist office before you go.
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