A getaway in Uzès
Place aux Herbes in Uzès, at the heart of the old town
In Uzès, the streets of the old town converge on Place aux Herbes. Around its fountain and beneath its arcades, markets set the rhythm of the ducal town.
A market square since the 13th century
Emerging from the narrow streets of the old town, the square opens into a broad view. Plane trees cast their shade across it, the fountain and its basin bring a welcome sense of coolness, while the arcades shelter shops and café terraces.
The square has a long trading history: the first known market here was recorded in 1241. Since the 13th century, it has hosted exchanges between Uzès and the surrounding Uzège countryside. The arcades continue this tradition today, sheltering shops and stalls at the foot of the façades.
Beneath the plane trees, café terraces and the cool fountain
Outside market days, the square settles into a quieter rhythm. Along the façades, the café terraces benefit from the shade of the plane trees. At its centre, the fountain and basin add to the intimate atmosphere of the square.
Residents and visitors cross paths here or stop during a walk. Place aux Herbes is part of everyday life at the heart of Uzès. From here, they continue towards the Duchy, the Fenestrelle Tower or the villages of the Uzège.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the market fills the square
On market days, the square changes character. Stalls are set up beneath the trees and along the arcades. Visitors move from one stall to the next among the produce of the Uzège: vegetables, fruit, cheese, olives, herbs and wine.
On Saturday mornings, the bustle spreads into the neighbouring streets. On Wednesdays, the stalls remain more closely grouped around the square. On both days, Place aux Herbes perpetuates its historic role as a place of trade, provisions and encounters, at the centre of a town that has retained a close relationship with its hinterland.
What the square reveals about Uzès
Place aux Herbes encapsulates Uzès. Beneath the arcades, thresholds and shopfronts carry on its trading history. The pale stone façades retain the coolness of the old streets. A few steps away, shops, monuments and shady places to pause reveal themselves along the way.
From the square, the Duchy, Saint-Théodorit Cathedral and the Fenestrelle Tower are all within easy reach. The main monuments lie within the same maze of old streets. Beyond the centre, the town opens onto the landscapes of the Uzège.
Beyond Uzès, discovering the Uzège
The history and landscapes of Uzès extend well beyond the old town. To the south, the Pont du Gard formed part of the Roman aqueduct that carried water from the Eure spring to Nîmes. Around the town, the villages of the Uzège, including Blauzac, together with vineyards and dry-stone paths, trace the outlines of a more rural Provence in the Gard.
Practical information
Getting to Place aux Herbes in Uzès
- Parking
- The Cordeliers and Gide car parks are within walking distance of Place aux Herbes and the old town.
- Market days
- On Wednesdays and Saturdays, it is best to arrive early to park close to the centre.
Our selection
Guest houses around Uzès to extend the getaway
To stay near the old town, its market and the villages of the Uzège, the portal presents bed and breakfasts and guest houses with direct links to the owners' websites.