La Valette Boutique
Sanilhac-Sagriès, 30700 Gard, France
The Gardon river runs through a limestone gorge between Uzès and the Pont du Gard. In summer, the water turns emerald and the banks become the best address in the region. All spots are within twenty minutes of La Valette Boutique.
You can swim in the Gardon river, which flows through the Gard below the Pont du Gard. The two best spots near Uzès are the river beach at the Pont du Gard, fifteen minutes away, with a gradual pebble entry and lifeguards in peak season, and the gorge pools reached from Collias, twenty minutes away. The water is warmest and lowest in July and August. Avoid swimming after heavy rain.
| Spot | From La Valette | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Pont du Gard river beach | 15 min | Gradual pebble entry, lifeguards in peak season |
| Collias gorge pools | 20 min | Deeper gorge pools, clear water |
Under the arches
The broad riverbed directly below the Roman bridge is the most famous spot and the easiest to reach. The left bank has a gradual pebble entry, shallow enough for children. The deeper channel in the middle is where adults swim. In the early morning before the site opens fully, you may have the river largely to yourself. The bridge above catches the first light. Fifteen minutes from La Valette Boutique.
Upstream
Collias is the kayakers' starting point, twenty minutes from La Valette Boutique. Below the village, the river enters the gorge proper: limestone cliffs, overhanging trees, pools of water so clear you can see every stone on the bottom. The paddle downstream to the Pont du Gard takes roughly two hours and passes spots unreachable by road. Some of the best swimming is where nobody else stops.
Quieter spots
The stretches of the Gardon east of Remoulins are calmer, less visited, and lined with plane trees that throw shade across the water by mid-afternoon. Access points are informal: a path off the road, a gap in the trees. Locals know these spots by heart. Ask at La Valette Boutique and we will point you to the right ones for the season and the water level.
Good to know
The Gardon is a Mediterranean river. In high summer the water is warm and low. After autumn rains it can rise dramatically within hours. Never swim after heavy rainfall. The best swimming months are June through September. Bring water shoes for the pebble riverbed and sun protection for the gorge, where the limestone reflects heat.
Two restored apartments near Uzès, in the Gard, South of France. The Gardon river is fifteen minutes by car. The Pont du Gard swimming spot is the closest.
Send an enquiryYes. The Gardon river flows directly beneath the Pont du Gard and offers excellent swimming. The left bank has a gradual pebble entry, shallow areas for children and deeper pools for swimmers. Lifeguards are present in peak season.
The two best spots are the river beach at the Pont du Gard (15 min from La Valette Boutique) and the gorge pools accessible from Collias (20 min). Both have clear, warm water in summer.
In normal summer conditions, yes. The river is Mediterranean in character — warm and low in July and August. Never swim after heavy rainfall, as the river can rise rapidly. Check local conditions on arrival.