guide
Nicknamed the “gateway to the Cevennes”, Anduze sits at the foot of an impressive rocky spur, on the banks of the Gardon. A small town with a Protestant heart, famous for its terracotta vases, it is also the starting point for some of the finest outings in the Gard: steam train, the Bambouseraie, caves and river swimming.
Here are our ideas for enjoying Anduze and its surroundings, with family or friends, along with campsites where you can stay by the water.
| Information | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Where? | In the Gard department, between Alès and Saint-Jean-du-Gard, at the gateway to the Cevennes |
| Highlights | Train à vapeur des Cévennes, Bambouseraie, old town |
| Swimming | The Gardon, on pebble beaches |
| Speciality | The Anduze vase, in glazed earthenware |
| Nearby | Grotte de Trabuc, Musée du Désert, Saint-Jean-du-Gard |
| Best time | From May to September |
The centre of Anduze is best explored on foot, between narrow lanes, small squares and fountains. The Clock Tower, a remnant of the old fortifications, and the large Protestant temple, one of the biggest in France, recall the town’s past as a stronghold of Cevenol Protestantism. Leaving the town to the north, the road winds between two spectacular cliffs: the famous gateway to the Cevennes.
From Anduze, the Train à vapeur des Cévennes runs to Saint-Jean-du-Gard over some fifteen kilometres, through tunnels and across viaducts, above the valleys of the Gardon. The journey, which stops at the Bambouseraie, is one of families’ favourite outings. The train generally runs from spring to autumn: check the timetable before you come.
A few minutes from Anduze, at Générargues, the Bambouseraie is an exotic garden unique in France, created in the 19th century. You wander through a forest of giant bamboo, Japanese gardens, lotus pools and greenhouses, in an exotic atmosphere.
In summer, the Gardon offers lovely freshwater swimming spots on shaded pebble beaches, in Anduze itself or upstream towards Mialet and Saint-Jean-du-Gard. The water is clear and cool, ideal for children in the shallow areas. Swimming is not supervised everywhere: take care, especially after a storm, when the river level can rise very quickly.
At Mialet, about ten minutes from Anduze, the Les Plans campsite is an ideal base for the Cevennes: its water park complements swimming in the Gardon, and the Grotte de Trabuc and the Musée du Désert are close by. Also see our campsites with a water park in the Gard.
Anduze is a perfect stop for discovering the Cevennes gently: one day is enough for the steam train and the Bambouseraie, but you will happily stay a week, between swims in the Gardon, caves and villages. Come in June or September to enjoy the river in peace.
