Along the Gardon
The renewed quays along the Gardon offer a lovely walk in the heart of Alès. Old bridges, water reflections and recent plantings weave a soothing frame for an easy conversation. A coffee on the terrace of Place de l’Hôtel-de-ville, then a stroll to Vauban Fort watching over town from its wooded hillock, is enough to turn a simple afternoon into a real shared moment.
The mine museum, Alès memory
Alès long lived to the rhythm of its mines. The Mine Témoin, set in former training galleries, is explored with a helmet on your head: you descend a few dozen metres underground to understand the miners’ work. A surprising, dense and moving date, which leaves plenty to talk about back in the fresh air, on a terrace around a drink.
Gateway to the Cévennes
Alès is also the gateway to the Cévennes: within a few minutes’ drive, you reach chestnut woods, schist villages and hiking trails. A walk for open-space lovers, followed by a farm table, makes a memorable date. On Lyad, locals share their favourite corners; it is up to you to find someone to leave the town behind with for an afternoon.
Date ideas
- Vauban Fort
- Place de l’Hôtel-de-ville
- Gardon banks
- Mine museum
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral
- Cévennes