Bellegarde can be explored through a variety of themes: La Madone offers views across the RhĂ´ne plain, while heritage, cycle routes and nature experiences provide other ideas for planning your trip. You can tailor your stay to the sights and activities that interest you most.
La Madone and the history of Bellegarde
The La Madone site, also known as the castle site, is open to the public. Check the local visiting conditions again before your trip. From here, the view stretches across the RhĂ´ne plain, encompassing Beaucaire, Les Alpilles, Fourques, Arles and St Gilles; on a clear day, the panorama extends even farther. These named places give the view a broad regional perspective.
The history of the area is also present at La Madone: the Tour de la Madone was part of the larger 13th-century Castrum Bellae Gardae fortification complex. Another example of sacred architecture is the Romanesque chapel of the Priory of Saint-Vincent de Broussan in Bellegarde. It lies on the Way of St James. Every summer in August, the chapel hosts a concert as part of the “Musique et vieilles pierres” festival. If you would like to plan around the concert, check the dates for the relevant year.
Marina and cycle route
Port de Bellegarde is a marina with 70 berths. The Voie verte Beaucaire Bellegarde offers an easy cycle route: it is 11.6 kilometres long and connects the marinas of Beaucaire and Bellegarde. This gives you two specific points of reference for planning: the stated route length and the route between the two ports.
If you prefer to explore on foot, the Randonnée Autour de la Costière offers a different perspective on the landscape. The walk passes through the vineyards of the Costières and along the Canal du Rhône à Sète. An audio guide for this route is available through the Latitude Gard smartphone app, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Check that the app is available before setting off.
Ponds, birdwatching and aromatic plants
The VTT L'Ecluse de Nourriguier mountain bike trail passes flat ponds. There, you can spot herons, grey herons and kingfishers. Unlike the cycle route between the marinas, this trail focuses on the landscape around the ponds and offers a reason to include nature watching in your plans.
Aromatic plants are another point of interest. Un Mas en Provence offers tours about the organic cultivation of plants such as lavender and immortelle, and how they are processed into essential oils. Visitors can explore the garden and watch a distillation. A workshop includes a steam distillation using the on-site still. It also includes hand-picking aromatic plants in a blooming lavender field.
The different highlights can help you choose: La Madone and the chapel offer views and heritage, the Voie verte provides a cycle route with a stated distance, and the walking and mountain biking routes take you through vineyards, along the canal, and past ponds where you can watch birds. This can help you decide which themes will shape your trip to Bellegarde.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Gervasy, Saint-Maximin, Baron, Dourbies, Générac, Langlade, Gaujac, Combas.
For the main travel overview: Gard.
