Cafes and restaurants
Walks & Outdoor activities
Cultural experiences
Boulangeries, traiteurs and supermarkets
Markets
Brocantes and ateliers
Vineyards and distilleries
Family activities
Indoor activities
England
Wales, Scotland & Ireland
France
Italy, Spain & Portugal
UK holiday cottage destinations
European adventures
Who's coming?
Trending collections
Escape to nature
Coastal
Weekend breaks
Destination guides
Featured stories
Travelling with your dog
Detour – a podcast inspired by travel
Sawday's
Inspecting at Sawday's
More from Sawday's
This tranquil mill, steeped in history, was built in 1737 and was powered by the river Vidourle – one of the most important rivers in the Gard. The mill sits in a private park in the village of Rauret surrounded by vines and mature trees – you’ll hear plenty of birdsong and the sound of rushing water. Swim in the millpool, fish from the weir, canoe up to Quissac, watch kingfishers, picnic in lush meadows.
5-minute drive
Weds, Thurs, Sun: closed
Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat: 12:00 – 13:30 & 19:00 – 21:15
Very good value for a Michelin restaurant with a fixed-price lunch menu. Traditional French cooking from young owners who use local and seasonal ingredients and then transform them into modern and creative dishes.
Read more
20-minute drive
Sun: closed
Tues – Fri: 19:00 – 22:30
Sat: 12:00 – 14:30 & 19:00 – 22:30
Excellent Neapolitan pizza restaurant with fresh daily specialities. It’s run with love and care by two brothers, Massimo and Gennaro, who are passionate about using the right flour, the slow maturation of the dough and the correct oven temperatures. An authentic Neapolitan experience.
Read more
18-minute drive
Tues: closed
Mon, Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat: 16:00 – 22:00
Sun: 10:00 – 1200 & 16:00 – 22:00
A wonderful wine bar where you can taste and buy wine at vineyard prices while enjoying great views of Pic St Loup and the surrounding area. The bustling, friendly restaurant serves platters of local cheeses and charcuterie as well as hot dishes and homemade puddings.
Read more
From Moulin de Meunier
You’ll find two canoes and a paddle board, so set off upstream to discover the ruins of the old mill, or all the way to Quissac (in season.) The river throngs with wildlife so keep very quiet and you may spot a shy kingfisher or heron. Fish for perch and carp from the private quay or cool off with a wild swim in the crystal-clear waters.
Read more
12-minute drive
Geographers and historians will adore this 5.5 km walk through a rocky plateau above Sauve, which takes you through a lunar landscape of stone ruins, garrigues and large boulders of calcium in fantastic forms shaped by the weather over thousands of years. Discover Le Castellas, a large rock which was part of the ruined ramparts and then look for the remains of the Château de Roquevaire, destroyed in 1703.
Read more
Pic St. Loup
30-minute drive
A very scenic drive through vineyards to the foothills of the mountain and the start of a two and a half hour walk over fairly rocky terrain to the top. The last part involves a bit of a clamber but at the top you’ll discover a derelict chapel and stunning views. The whole route is unspoilt and wild, marked by painted crosses. Hiker heaven and popular with local families, including children.
Read more
Nimes
30-minute drive
Every Thursday evening during July and August the historic centre of the city buzzes with craftsmen and artists, collectors and local producers. The atmosphere is electric, you can taste wine and local produce at the foot of the cathedral and listen to live jazz, blues, flamenco and world music. There’s even special entertainment for children – nobody is left out.
Read more
Uzes
45-minute drive
The annual wine fair at Uzes (during August) is an unmissable event for wine lovers – a showcase for wine production in Gard. During this three-day worship of ‘the grape’ you’ll find no fewer than 54 selected wine growers from this highly productive area including AOP Dûché d’Uzès, Châteauneuf du Pape, Côtes du Rhône, Côteaux du Languedoc and Costières de Nîmes among others. Try some savoury treats (fougasses) from Uzétiens bakers: La Nougatine, le Pécher Mignon and the Boulangerie la Provençale.
Read more
Quissac
5-minute drive
There are several good boulangeries and a butchers in Quissac. Particularly recommended for pain au raisin is Patisserie and Boulangerie Besnard where a young and friendly team will also provide you with the freshest baguettes and croissants for your breakfast. You’ll also find a Lidl and an Intermarche.
Read more
Sommières
10-15 minute drive
In Sommières there is a bigger Intermarché and Picard. You’ll also find an excellent butcher/traiteur in Sommières – Boucherie Salles. Open every day from 0800 – 12.30 and 1500-1930. They are particularly popular for their marinaded steaks.
Read more
Sommières
10-15-minute drive
Saturday morning
Start your day with a rousing speciality coffee from Antoine before buying the freshest fruit and vegetables from Lulu the greengrocer. You can buy fresh eggs and pasta along with Lebanese salads and takeaway meals from Meney Traiteur on the square. The cheese stand ( Le Cantalou) offers a myriad of delicious local cheeses and you’ll find lots of Mediterranean produce from stuffed olives to hummus, dried tomatoes in olive oil to dates and figs.
Read more
Quissac
5-minute drive
Wednesday morning
Quissac’s busy market offers a wide range of fresh local produce including an oyster stall, a tasty Vietnamese deli take-away and oodles of fruit, vegetables, bread and cheese. There are also a few clothes and shoe stalls, and a plant stall. Enjoy a coffee at the Cafe de la Paix while being serenaded by local buskers.
Read more
10-15-minute drive
An exciting and extensive brocante with an excellent reputation and where British antique dealers can be found hunting for French bargains. Browse up to 80 stalls selling everything from furniture, pottery and art to vintage jewellery and clothes. When you’ve exhausted your rummaging you can sit in the shade of the plane trees and listen to the buskers while you sip a glass of local rosé.
Read more
18-minute drive
Sun: closed
Mon- Fri: 09:00 – 12:00 & 13:00-18:00
Sat: 10:00 – 13:00 & 14:00 – 18:00
Come to taste and buy these excellent wines, grown in the shadow of the twin peaks of Hortus and Pic St Loup. The setting is serene and the close-knit family owners are now the second generation to produce some wonderful wines, most notably La Grand Cuvee, a full-blooded red.
Read more
This traditional family vineyard produces high quality bio wine – red, white and rosé. Try Cuvee Joseph, a fruity red, which will goes very well with red meat and strong cheeses. For fish and seafood try the Mas Pagès Les Éboulis de Pierre. On long summer evenings their delightfully refreshing light rosé is irresistible.
Read more
10-15 minute drive
On rare rainy days when you don’t want to stay indoors then you can head to the cinema and lose yourself in a bit of drama. This 3-screen cinema shows a mixture of foreign films in their original versions, French films and films for children.
Read more
The Mediterranean Sea
A 40-minute drive
Drive south for golden sands and a wide range of water sports – try Grand Travers or L’Espiguette, a wonderful day out for all the family. Swim, sail, take a picnic or treat yourselves to lunch in a seafood restaurant overlooking the water and soak in the atmosphere and sunshine.
Read more
The Camargue
At the mouth of the river Rhone, the Camargue covers a large area of natural beauty from Salin-de-Giraud in the east to Les Santes Marie de la Mer in the west. Here, you can ride the white horses, take a boat on a safari trip or visit interesting towns with their activities steeped in tradition.
Read more
30-minute drive
This modern interactive museum explores Nimes’s unique Roman history with a mixture of both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Interestingly, many of the Roman artifacts were discovered in villages close to the mill such as Salinelles and St Clement.
The most recent temporary exhibition was on the life of Achilles.
Read more
30-minute drive
Like its Parisian model, the Georges Pompidou Centre, Carré d’Art houses both the multimedia library and the contemporary art museum, providing a lively new venue for local residents and visitors. Designed by Norman Foster and started in 1986, with substantial state backing, the contemporary art museum’s collection includes nearly 600 items.
Read more
An ancient Roman aqueduct built in the first century AD to carry water over 50km to the Roman Colony of Nemausus (Nimes). It crosses the river Gardon near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it stands 48.8 meters high, has three tiers or arches and is incredibly well preserved. You can take a guided tour of the bridge, swim in the Gardon river and see spectacular light shows during balmy summer evenings.
Read more
Cirque de Navacelles
One hour drive
Between Larzac and the Cévennes, le Cirque de Navacelles is one of the largest canyons in Europe. The river Vis has, over the centuries, eroded the calcium plateau to descend 1400 metres to its current floor. It’s a thrilling hike down the canyon but bring your own food (no shop or café) and make sure you’re protected from the sun.
Read more