When to visit Uzès and the Gard

The Gard has a genuine Mediterranean climate. Summers are long and hot. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Winters are mild with occasional cold snaps, and are ideal for truffle markets and empty roads.

Jan-Willem and Fleur, hosts at La Valette Boutique
Jan-Willem & Fleur
Hosts at La Valette Boutique · Updated July 2026

Quick answer

Spring and early autumn are the best all-round months to visit.

Best for comfort: April–June and September–October — warm days, lively markets, manageable crowds.

Best for heat and long evenings: July–August — hot and busy, but the Gardon and the terraces are at their best.

The best times to visit Uzès are spring, from April to June, and early autumn, in September and October, when temperatures are warm but comfortable and the markets are lively. July and August are hotter, often 32 to 38°C, and busier, though the river swimming and evening life are at their best. Winter is mild, quiet, and brings truffle season to the Uzès market.

Uzès by season
SeasonMonthsTypical tempWhat to expect
SpringApr–Jun18–26°CWarm, comfortable, lively markets
SummerJul–Aug32–38°CHot and busy; best swimming and evenings
AutumnSep–Oct18–26°CWarm, quieter, vendanges
WinterDec–Mar8–15°CMild and quiet; twice-weekly truffle market
A note on perspective

What we know from our visits

We purchased La Valette Boutique in March 2026. Our direct experience of the region spans spring and early summer; our observations on autumn and winter draw on conversations with the previous owner, neighbours and the producers we have come to know through the Saturday market.

What we can say: the Gard in April and May is quieter, greener and cooler than most people expect. The garrigue flowers in April — yellow broom, wild rosemary — and evenings are cold enough for a fire. June begins a long season through September. Truffle season at Uzès gives the colder months a specific reason to visit.

The most consistent piece of advice we have received, and which we pass on: October is underestimated. The light is extraordinary, the temperature is still warm, and the summer visitors have gone.

Spring · March–May

The best all-round season

Spring is arguably the finest time to visit. Temperatures are warm but not oppressive — 18 to 26°C in May. The garrigue flowers. The markets fill up. The Gardon river is high and fast. Tourist numbers are modest and accommodation is easy to find. Ideal for cycling, walking and long lunches. The one thing to watch for is the Mistral — a strong, cold wind that can sweep through for a day or two and make cycling harder, though it leaves the light exceptional once it clears.

The Saturday market in Uzès is at its most colourful in May, with strawberries, asparagus and the first cherries of the season.

Summer · June–August

Peak season — heat and light

Summer is when the Gard is at its most itself. Temperatures regularly reach 32–38°C. The light is extraordinary. The Gardon river becomes a string of emerald swimming pools. The evenings are warm enough for dinner outdoors until midnight. July and August are busy — book ahead. June is the ideal compromise: full summer weather with fewer crowds. Plan around the heat: mornings and evenings are for being outside, and midday to late afternoon is for retreating indoors or into the water. July also overlaps with the Festival d'Avignon, forty minutes away, which fills the wider region.

Arrive at the Pont du Gard before 9am or after 5pm in July and August. The light at those hours is also better.

Autumn · September–November

Vendanges, truffles and empty roads

September is the harvest month. The vineyards turn gold. The garrigue smells of wild thyme and rosemary after the first rains. Temperatures ease into the mid-20s. The swimming continues into early October. Mid-September also brings Nîmes' Féria des Vendanges, a bullfighting festival some visitors prefer to plan around rather than into. Truffle season follows into the winter months.

The wine harvest (vendanges) runs through September. Some domaines welcome visitors during this period — ask at La Valette.

Winter · December–February

Quiet, mild and underrated

Winter in the Gard is mild by northern European standards — 10 to 15°C on most days, with full sun on many. The roads are empty. It's worth checking ahead, though — some restaurants and small shops close for a winter break. The light is low and beautiful. Uzès at Christmas has a small but genuine market. Truffle season brings its own quiet buzz to the Uzès market.

Truffle season brings its own rhythm to the Uzès market — see the Uzès Markets guide for current days and hours.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit Uzès. Temperatures are warm but comfortable, the markets are at their most lively, and tourist numbers are manageable. July and August are hotter and busier but the swimming and evening life are exceptional.

Uzès has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, regularly reaching 32–38°C in July and August. Spring and autumn are warm and sunny, 18–26°C. Winters are mild by northern European standards, typically 8–15°C with many sunny days.

Yes. Winter in Uzès is mild and underrated. Truffle season brings a distinct rhythm to the Uzès market (see our Markets guide for current days), roads are quiet, restaurants have space, and the light in the Gard in winter is unusually beautiful. It is one of the best-kept secrets of the region.

Truffle season runs through the winter months, bringing black truffles to the Uzès market alongside the usual produce and cheese. For current market days and hours, see our Uzès Markets guide.

The vendanges in the Gard typically run through September, starting in late August for the earliest varieties. The Duché d'Uzès appellation harvests on limestone and garrigue terrain, producing rosé, red and white wines.

The Mistral is a strong, cold wind that sweeps down the Rhône valley, sometimes for one to three days at a time. It can make cycling and time outdoors harder while it blows, but it clears the sky completely — the light afterward is some of the best in the region. It can happen in any season and isn't something to plan a trip around, just to be ready for.

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