Beaucaire in the Gard Visions of a Different Era in Provence

Beaucaire is a small town in the Gard department, located on the banks of the Rhône River and the start of the Rhône-Sète canal. The name Beaucaire means beautiful stone. There is evidence of a Gallo-Roman settlement in this hilly area as early as 11 BC. During the Roman era, the Via Domitia, a prominent road from Italy to Spain, ran through Beaucaire.

The ancient community gave way to a medieval town in 1067 and the establishment of a castle in 1180. The castle is impressive, even as a sliver of its’ former size, at one time it occupied 26 hectares.  Standing in the open area after the entrance, one can begin to imagine the immense presence that once stood on this hilly promontory.

The height of prominence for this centre was in the 18th century when the Madeleine’s Fair, held each July 21st, reached 250,000 attendees. Over time as the importance of the fair declined, and trade shifted to other centres, and the influence of Beaucaire has declined. …Continue reading here for the original Ginger and Nutmeg post.

Beaucaire Key Tourist Information

Market Days:
Thursdays and Sundays

Tourist Office:
8 rue Victor Hugo
Tel : +33 (0)4 66 59 26 57
website

Boat trips Rhône-Sete canal:
Beaucaire is the jumping-off point for river barging trips. Hire a boat or join a charter to explore the Rhône-Sète canal (99km long), that connects to the Canal du Midi.

Worth a visit:
Just five kilometres from Beaucaire, you will find Abbaye de Saint-Roman a monastery established in a hilltop cave that was occupied by monks for approximately 1000 years.