Walking in France around three of Languedoc's finest cultural centres.
Key Facts
1. Theme
If you have a penchant for exotic gardens and parks, fine architecture and history, then these fascinating urban rambles are right up your street.
This is one of our walking tours in France specifically designed for urbanites who love the excitement of the city; who long to explore its green spaces, and discover its history as expressed through its architecture and monuments.
The secrets of each 'capital' is revealed as you walk their splendid parks, gardens, streets and hinterlands, eat in their lively cafes and restaurants, and participate in their diverse night-life. You will learn more about these cities in 7 days than many of its denizens learn in a life time.
Useful background information on Montpellier can be found here.
2. Model 7-night walking tour in France: Rambling in Languedoc
Day 1. Uzès.
Arrival and hotel check-in at the capital of former Uzège and Duchy of France. Urban walk to discover the history and heritage of this enigmatic cité.
Day 2. Source of the Eure. 4 miles- 6kms, with optional 4 km extension.
Explore the source that gave rise to the construction of the Pont du Gard, 50 kms away. Impressive views of the town are to be enjoyed as you sweep round the Alzon Gorge past castles, mills and waterfall. The optional afternoon visit to the Medieval Gardens is a splendid walk through the horticultural heritage of the Region.
Day 3. Montpellier: Jardin des Plantes. 3 miles- 4.5 kms from city centre.
Transfer to Nimes and 30-min. train to Montpellier. You walk the outskirts of the historic centre and arrive at a magnificent 16th century European garden, with orangerie, arboretum, English Garden and Tomb of Narcissus. En route you walk esplanade, square, cathedral and churches, archeological garden, tower, convent and amphitheatre.
Day 4. Promenade Peyrou and the Historic Centre. 5 miles-8kms.
From the banks of the Lez, you walk through a classical Greco-Roman urban styling of monumental stature. You pass under the Arc de Triomphe and visit Peyrou gardens before wending your way through the narrow lanes of the ‘Arab quarter’.
Day 5. Chateau de Grammont. 5.5 miles-8 kms.
Today you escape the bustle of the City and enter into a land of quietude, vines, chateaux and stone farmhouses, punctuated by the sound of crickets and the smell of wild fennil. It’s Greater Montpellier as few get to see it.
Day 6. Nimes: La Gaule Romaine. Urban walk.
30-minute train ride to Nimes after breakfast. Walk of historic centre including The Temple, Norman Foster’s art gallery and library, the amphitheatre, St-Paul church and Esplanade.
Day 7. Le Garrigue de Nîmes. 4 miles-6 kms.
You walk the hinterland of Nimes and its famous bucolic 'garrigue' -vines, olive and dry stone buildings/capitelles.
Day 8. End of your hiking in France.
Au revoir et à bientôt.
Notes:
1. As part of our policy of continual review and improvement, we reserve the right to make alterations to our walking tours in France.
2. All of our hiking tours in France give you the option to use your own car at a discounted rate.
3. Accommodations
You stay in three different places/hotels en route in order to reduce travelling time to a minimum. Walks then start and finish from your hotel, or after a short train or tram ride, for greater convenience.
These are your three overnight stops: 1. Uzès - two nights; 2. Montpellier - three nights; 3. Nimes - two nights.
4. What's Included
- 7 nights B & B in two 2-star hotels and a 2-star Chambre d'hote, with all local taxes - leaving you free to purchase your meals according to your personal preferences and budget: relevant information is available in your dossier;
- Taxi transfer from Uzes to Nimes;
- Return train fares Nimes - Montpellier and a one-way transfer inside Montpellier;
- Tailored walks to suit your needs and capacity;
- Walking France Insight Notes™ that make map reading redundant*;
- Themed vacation dossier;
- Comprehensive travel notes & logistical information;
- Cultural ‘What’s on’ information;
- Emergency telephone help-line service with local British assistance.
5. Prices 2009
Price per person based on 2 persons sharing:
£595.00 or €695.00 or $895.00
Click to go to Booking and Costs
