On Saturday we went back to the beautiful bastide town of Uzès. An hour and a half from Lourmarin, just west of Avignon, we often visit on a Saturday. We get up early to stop off on route at the Antique Market in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, a weekly event across the river from Avignon, to then hurry on to Uzès where on a Saturday Uzès plays host to arguably one of the finest markets in the region. This delightful duchy holds a special place in my heart. It's where we lived in 2012 and where the story of Shutters and Sunflowers began. It's also the stage for my World War II historical novel, The Sunflower Field, the true story of the Polish cryptologists who having cracked The Enigma Code in 1932, lived in hiding in Uzès, for two years during the war.

And within minutes of arriving back I was reminded of the inspiration for the title of my blog. The shutters adorning the windows of Uzès that so captivated me,

and the golden smiling faces of the sunflowers, which long after they've danced their annual repertoire in nearby fields, still fill the flower baskets in the market.

A market that was in full swing when we found our way there, shaded below its' leafy canopy in Uzès central square, Place-aux-Herbes.

Amongst the abundance of fresh produce was local purple garlic,

and colorful whicker baskets, greatly reduced in price as the summer season has begun to dwindle to a close.

And announcing the arrival of autumn, there was a wide variety of mushrooms, including a Provençal speciality, cèpes, only available for a few weeks at this time of year.

The market winds its way along the cobbled streets between the town's splendid golden arches.

And by lunchtime the restaurant tables are full, weary shoppers tempted by the plat du jours. Laughter and chatter fill the air and no-one seems to notice the market slowly slip away.

Leaving the bustle behind, it's an ideal time to explore the now deserted streets.

One quickly becomes immersed in the charming ambience of this truly special place. A timeless enchantment which never fades.

The worn steps of Rue rue Saint-Théodorit entice us down.

And finding our way back to Place-aux-Herbes, all swept and cleaned, it's hard to believe just moments earlier this was the hub of a busy, heaving market.

Crossing the square we wandered into a local favorite, the one shop I always have to return to, Les Pots d'Uzès

I wished I could buy some more, especially the very largest ones for my outdoor patio.

I had to content myself with just looking ......

As we made our way back through the streets we caught a glimpse of one of the treasures of Uzès, the Fenestrelle Tower, peeking its head above the roof tops.

Nearby a sunflower smiled in greeting outside one of the local artisan's shops.

We passed by more ancient, shuttered buildings,

and lingered for one last time in Place-aux-Herbes, not wanting to leave.

Standing wistfully outside the house where we lived (which I've featured in my novel)

we wandered back down the street and as always, I wondered disloyally, if maybe we should have bought in Uzès, it always beguiles me so....

Driving back, we promised ourselves to soon make a trip back to the magnificent walled city of Avignon.

And through the front windscreen, as we caught a glimpse of Le Pont Saint Benezet, we found ourselves humming the nursery tune we'd both learned in Primary school, 'Sur la Pont d'Avignon...'

That evening, back in Lourmarin, sitting outside our beloved Café Gaby, my doubts about where we should have our house in Provence, fade. I'll always adore Uzès and love every moment we spend there, but this is where we belong.....

Come and see for yourself!

Download  The PDF Travel Guide for Uzès my travel tips about Uzès

Rent Maison des Cerises ~our house in Provence, already taking bookings for 2022!

The post Uzès where Shutters and Sunflowers began appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Magnificent Roman architecture, bullfights and concerts.
Sun drenched squares overlooked by stately shuttered mansions.
Meandering cobbles streets packed with shops and restaurants.
Stunning art museums, cathedrals gardens and treasures from the past.
This is the seductive Roman city of Nîmes whose ancient treasures wait to be explored.

Arènes de Nîmes

La Maison Carrée

Carre d'Art/Musee d'Art Contemporain

Jardin de la Fontaine

Tour Magne

Temple of Diana

The Castellum

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nîmes

Cathedrale Notre-Dame-Et-Saint-Castor de Nîmes

The post The Roman city of Nîmes appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Standing beneath the golden arches of the Roman aqueduct,
Pont du Gard, just 6km from Uzès, Languedoc Roussillon, France,
it hardly seems possible that this magnificent structure has been here for over 2000 years.
Build from local limestone, for 600 years
it carried water from Uzès to the Roman city of Nimes, 30km away.
Spanning the beautiful River Gard
it is a breathtaking site,
one you won't regret including on your visit to
Languedoc Roussillon and Provence

To learn more about the Pont Du Gard and how to visit it click here

Download The Uzès, Travel Guide for Uzès and the surrounding regions of Languedoc Roussillon and Provence.

The post Visit Pont du Gard here..... appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Just 6 miles outside of Uzès, towards Avignon,
serenely merging into the surrounding landscape,
sits the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site
The Pont du Gard.
It has been here for well over 2000 years,
patiently waiting to be explored.
No matter how many times you have stood below its ancient arches
it will hold you spellbound,
as you stand and gaze up at in wonder.

Visiting the Pont du Gard

400 Route du Pont du Gard, 30210 Vers-Pont-du-Gard  Phone: +33 (0)4 66 37 50 99

Open all year round. Admission is €18 for a car of 5 people, includes parking and admission to the museum and film about the Pont du Gard.

About the Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard was built by the Romans in 50AD.

The Romans picked the source of the River Eure, near Uzès, to supply water to the nearly fifty thousand inhabitants of the vibrant city of Nimes, about thirty km away. It continued to do so for nearly 600 years.

The Pont du Gard was constructed with stone from the Roman quarry of L'Estel, just four hundred meters upstream.

The Pont du Gard is the largest and highest known Roman aqueduct in the world. It stands forty eight meters high with six arches on the first level, eleven on the second level and thirty five on the third level where the canal ran. It is fifty five kilometers long but its most monumental and best preserved piece is the Pont du Gard where it spans the beautiful River Gardon.

During the Middle Ages the Pont du Gard was partially destroyed and the stones were taken and reused in other constructions. The batteries were cut in the second floor and it was used as a road bridge.

During the 16th century a degree of restoration work was competed to preserve its integrity.

A road bridge was attached to it from 1743-1747 and finally in 1840 it was classified as an historic monument.

It is still possible to visit Prehistoric Caves at the Pont du Gard, evidence of just how long man has settled by the waters of the River Gardon

The Pont du Gard is a site to be behold, make sure you include it on your itinerary!

Download The Uzès, Travel Guide for Uzès and the surrounding regions of Languedoc Roussillon and Provence.

The post The Pont du Gard, UNESCO site near Uzès appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

There are many places to dine near Uzès, all just a short drive away.
Amidst the rolling countryside,
abundant with vineyards and olive groves ,
you'll find a few special dining spots,
worth driving a little way out of town for!

LA BEGUDE ST PIERRE

HOSTELLERIE LE CASTELLAS

LE TRACTEUR

The post Where to eat in the Uzès vicinity appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Uzès has a vibrant, ancient history, did you know that:

Uzès was first settled over one thousand years ago?

During Roman Times it was an important commercial and cultural center?

Duche d' Uzès

Uzès is the home to the first duchy of France and that it remains the oldest ducal peerage in France?

And that the family still live in the ducal castle in Uzès today?

During the reformationUzès became the fifth largest Huguenot city in France?

During the eighteenth and nineteen centuries Uzès became famous for making silk stockings?

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Duchess of Uzès, Anne de Mortemart, widow of the famous Champagne House, Clicquot, was the first French woman to obtain a driver's licence? An early feminist, she founded the French Women's Automobile Club?

During World War II, Château des Fouzes, code named CADIX and two minutes outside of Uzès, was the secret base for a  small group of cryptologists sending messages back to Bletchley Park in England.

The group included three Poles, Marian Rejewski, Jerzy Różycki and Henryk Zygalski, who were the first to crack the Enigma in 1932. They had given their intelligence to the French and the British at the onset of World War II, and continued their work, with the help of the local French Resistance,at great peril to their own safety from Château des Fouzes until November 1942 when fearing discovery by the Nazis they fled across the Pyrenees to Spain. An amazing, little known story of bravery and courage.

Let me know what you find out on your trip to this beautiful city!

Download The Uzès, Travel Guide for Uzès and the surrounding regions of Languedoc Roussillon and Provence.

The post Know the historical facts on your visit to Uzès! appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

  At the the heart of the beautiful city of Uzès' lies the architecturally stunning, La Place-aux-Herbes.
La Place-aux-Herbes is a vast, cobbled square surrounded on three sides by golden, stone arches
whose domed canopy covers the patios of shops and restaurants.
Her central feature is a large stone fountain which sits quietly chuckling at all who pass her by.

La Place-aux-Herbes is overlooked by tall, shuttered buildings,
softly painted in gentle shades of blue grey and violet, so delightfully French,
Place-aux-Herbes is like a splendid setting for a party.
Whether hosting her twice weekly markets, festivals, brocantes or local artisanal sales

Place-aux-Herbes is a place to gather, a place to meet friends, a place you will want to be in this charming, medieval city of Uzès.

The post La Place-aux-Herbes, Uzès appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Rue du Portalet, 30700 Uzes Tel : +33 (0)4 66 22 68 88
The Fenestrelle tower is Uzès' most famous landmark, adjacent to Saint-Théodorit Cathedral,
built at the end of the 11th century, this 'tower of windows'
is the only campanile tower in France.
A fairy-tale 'Rapunzel' tower
where can one imagine a handsome prince rescuing his beloved!

The post The Fenestrelle Tower Uzès appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

If all you did whilst staying in Uzès, was to meander around the town,
explore its shops, sample its many restaurants,
and buy wine and cheese from the local markets,
you would have a wonderful week becoming part of the magical charm of Uzès.
But, there are some wonderful sites you should try to see too!

THE CHATEAU  ~ THE DUCHY D'UZES

SAINT THEODORIT CATHEDRAL

THE FENESTRELLE TOWER

THE MEDIEVAL GARDEN

PONT DU GARD

WINERIES

OLIVE OIL MILLS

The post What to see in Uzès appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Imagine falling asleep in a luxurious room, once part of grand Renaissance French mansion
or under soft linens in the bedroom a now historical, listed building.
Or staying in an exquisitely, charming bedroom filled with fresh flowers
where the warmth and charm of your hostess
make you feel as if you were staying in a beloved Aunt's home.
Some of the many options to rest your head during your visit to Uzès,
would you like to find out more?

Maison de la Bourgade

my very favourite B&B in Uzès!

The post Where to stay in Uzès appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.