Experience the Vibrant Uzès Weekly Markets in Place aux Herbes
At the heart of Uzès lies the Place aux Herbes, a bustling square that has been the town’s marketplace since the Middle Ages.
Designed initially with houses built in the square, the place was later divided into small markets for vegetables, oxen, and chestnuts. Since the 19th century, the Place aux Herbes has been the town’s social and cultural life epicentre. Surrounded by stately 17th and 18th-century buildings and shaded by ancient plane trees, the square has an atmosphere of timeless elegance and historic charm. Continue reading for the Barefoot Blogger’s original article with photos and details about the Uzès weekly markets on Wednesdays (local products) and the larger Saturday market.
Why Visit Uzès?
Uzès has a permanent population of 8,200, at least double that many during the peak tourist season. High walls surround the remains of the medieval town, erected to shelter inhabitants from invaders. Although the ramparts no longer serve as protection, the stone fortifications provide a slight buffer from the noise of snarled traffic on the ring road.
Uzès is a charming medieval town with a strategic hilltop above la Vallée d’Eure (Eure Valley). Food (grain, grapes, olives) and livestock (sheep and goats) continued flourishing on the fertile fluvial plain as they would have during the Middle Ages. The Romans identified the source of the Eure River as the starting point for their massive hydro-engineering project to transport water over the Pont du Gard to Nîmes – 50 km away.
The Saturday market in Place aux Herbes is a lovely way to spend the morning, although it can get a little crowded! There are two market days in Uzès – Wednesdays and Saturdays. However, whether or not it is market day, chic stores and charming restaurants surround the square.
Anyone who visits Uzés, France, is in awe of the Château de Duché. It’s the town’s centrepiece and home to the Duke of Uzés — the oldest ducal peerage in France. If France were still a kingdom, the Duke of Uzés would rank just below “princes of the blood.”
Exploring Near Uzès
For visitors to Uzès, there’s always something to keep them busy. If you’re not shopping on market day or wandering through the ancient town and discovering its charming streets and alleyways, you’re walking beside the stream in the Valle du l’Eure.
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pont du Gard, is a must-visit. The museum is well worth a visit – plan to spend at least a couple of hours, and don’t miss the short movie. The Pont du Gard was part of a Roman-envisioned and engineered 50-kilometre aqueduct system. The system started near Uzès, transporting spring water to the city of Nimes via a series of underground channels and aqueducts. The exact timing of construction is still debated, although recent excavations have placed the work in the early part of the first century AD.
The aqueduct was an engineering marvel because it was built over 2000 years ago. The water travelled at a gradient of 34cm/km (1:3000). It descended 17m vertically in length and carried a daily flow of 20,000 cubic meters or 44 million gallons. The system was fully functional for about 200 years, after which lack of maintenance created lime build-up, and eventually, in the 9th century, it was no longer used. The Pont du Gard stands 49m high and is 275m long.
Uzès Truffle Festival
Since 1994, the Uzès Truffle Festival – Fête de la Truffe – takes place over a weekend in mid-January. The festivities draw curious crowds, gourmet enthusiasts, and several pigs with a strong sense of smell. Festival events start on Friday night with a Soirée Vigneronne (Winegrowers’ Evening ) when local winemakers present their wines. Saturday evening, la Soirée Bodega is a chance to taste truffle dishes paired with wines from the Cuvées of the Vignerons du Duché d’Uzès in a casual setting. The festival activities begin early on Sunday, a day dedicated to the “black diamond.”
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