Information on Towns and Villages to Visit within One Hour Drive (Note if most cases you will drive on country roads with amazing scenery):

Montpellier: In the University city of Montpellier, known as “the Paris of the South” is the beautiful Arc de Triomphe, the exquisite Musee Fabre, two opera houses, and one of the largest squares in Europe. Exploring the city is a joy and can easily and happily encompass the entire scope of your stay. The city has a great music scene and there is always something happening in this very vibrant, active university town. Montpellier is also 15 minutes from the closest beach where you can shop in the fishing village of Palavas Les Flots. you can stroll through the fishing village, take a boat tour, rent a bike or just walk on the promenade. Enjoy a lunch of Moules et Frites. If you have time, at the end of Palavos is the Cathedral of Maguelone and worth a visit. If it is warm, bring your swimsuit and dip into the silky Mediterranean water. Montpellier and the beaches are approximately an hour drive from the Cottage in Sauve through the beautiful countryside.

Nimes: Nimes is a 30 minute drive from Sauve is also a fashionable town with a pedestrian shopping area and the Colisseum, a Roman Art Museum and a beautiful park. Nimes is famous for its Colisseum which often hosts amazing concerts and events.

Uzes: Head out to Uzes for the Saturday Morning market that is the best in the region. Uzes is a special historical village with a pedestrian center shaped like a bicycle wheel with spokes and cobblestone streets. Shop for the best straw baskets in the region, tablecloths, olive oil with truffles, provence herbes, potterie, provencal soaps, cute season clothes, fabrics, fresh vegetables and fruits, assorted cheeses, fish, and more.

Visit the chateau du Uzes and stay for lunch in one of their outdoor cafes. This day we recommend getting up early and leaving by 8:00 H or 9 at the latest and get there before 10:00 (about a one hour nice drive). In the afternoon visit the famous Pont du Gard world heritage site or visit the village of St. Quentin La Poterie for tour of all the Potters. Make sure you stop at the Galtie Pottery next to the Wine Cooperative and the Millicent Poterie in the center of the village. Return home to cook a great meal with all the fresh produce and rotisserie chicken you purchased. 

Anduze: About a 25 minute drive into the base of the Cevennes mountains you will find the famous town known for its Anduze pottery. At different times of the year there are pottery fairs which draw from potters in the surrounding area. At the old train station, you can take the steam train to St. Jean du Gard for the day and have lunch and return. The route takes you through amazing scenery and geography.

Ganges: not to far away, the small village of Ganges has a market on Fidays and nearby, you can rent canoes on the river. Have lunch at the small village of LaRoque 5 minutes away and on the river.

Wine Tasting: Drive towards Pic St. Lou for excellent wine tasting and a different view of the countryside. Visit the different wineries along the way (as well as a few tasting rooms in these villages).  

Sommieres: A nearby village, about 20 minutes away has a lively Saturday marche and Sunday Brocante each week. A variety of restaurants, an old castle on the hill, and a beautiful river makes it a great day. The best Crepe restaurant you can find anywhere is in Sommieres and has a terrace overlooking the river. Reservations are key.

Aigue Morte: A Medieval walled village situated among the salt marshes and on the Canal du Midi. This is a wonderful place to stroll around, do some shopping, have lunch and to take the petite train around the village to see the walled city from different vantage points.

Avignon: Feel free to take the train from Nimes to Avignon for the day or drive a bit further about 1.5 hours as it is not a direct route on the freeway. Walk around the old city, shop, visit the famous Chateau des Papes and visit the Rhone River. Take the Petit Train around Avignon and you can get off and on at different historique sites. Return late in the day and walk up from the Montpelier train station (Gare) to the historique district and check out another of their wonderful restaurants.

Arles/ St. Remy de Provence: Famous for Van Gough and the famous Coliseum and is worth a visit. The new famous, Cultural building, La Luma, is also worth seeing and check out what exhibits to visit. You can easily spend a full day in this area.

A day Spa/Massage/ Hot Tub: In Sauve, we have a wonderful outdoor spa that provides massages as well as has a large pool and hot tub.

The Grotte des Demoiselles is a large cave located in the Hérault valley of southern France, near Ganges, about 60 km west of Nîmes. Its entrance is located on the territory of the commune of Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois.

Beaches: Grau-du-Roi, Grande Motte, Palavas, and Carnon are all sandy beaches available to visit on the edge of the camargue.

The Camargue is a 150,000- hectare  paralic wetland that  is home to numerous animal and plant species. It has been classified as a regional natural park since 1970 and recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 1977.

The Pont de Gau Ornithological Park is the ideal place to discover, observe, and photograph numerous bird species, including hundreds of pink flamingos, in their natural habitat. Ponds, marshes, meadows, irrigation ditches, reedbeds, and salt marshes make up this vast 60-hectare area entirely dedicated to exploring the nature and birds of the Camargue.

Options: Depending on what you want to do you suggestions will be provided when you rent our cottage for the week.