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Saint-Ambroix

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Gard

Saint-Ambroix - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Gard
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Saint-Ambroix is a town in the Gard, Occitanie region, 20 km north-east of Ales, on the edge of the department of Ardeche.

With an area of ​​11.7 km², the communal territory which rises to 485 m altitude belongs to the natural region of the Cevennes, south of the Massif Central but already has a climate partly Mediterranean.

Crossed by the meanders of the Cèze, a tributary of the Rhone, the locality which counts today approximately 3200 inhabitants is occupied since Antiquity and develops in the Middle Ages around a castle. The historic medieval heart is still visible today.

Commercial crossroads with a weekly market from the fourteenth century, the city that became a Protestant stronghold during the wars of religion saw the development of a textile industry related to the culture of the silkworm in the nineteenth century. The last spinning mill closed in 1958.

Its picturesque charm and its green environment, near the Regional Natural Park of the Cevennes and the high valley of the Cèze make Saint-Ambroix a step or a holiday resort appreciated by lovers of green tourism.

Geographical information

MunicipalitySaint-Ambroix
Postcode30500
Latitude44.2601020 (N 44° 15’ 36”)
Longitude4.1964200 (E 4° 11’ 47”)
AltitudeFrom 118m to 485m
Surface area11.74 km²
Population3366 inhabitants
Density286 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureNîmes (64 km, 1:09)
Insee code30227
IntercommunalityCC de Cèze Cévennes
DepartmentGard
TerritoryLanguedoc-Roussillon
RegionOccitanie

Nearest cities & towns

Saint-Brès2.4 km (4 min)
Saint-Victor-de-Malcap3.1 km (6 min)
Meyrannes3.8 km (6 min)
Les Mages4.5 km (6 min)
Saint-Denis6.1 km (8 min)
Saint-Jean-de-Valériscle6.6 km (8 min)
Potelières7.1 km (9 min)
Courry7.1 km (10 min)
Molières-sur-Cèze7.1 km (9 min)
Saint-Julien-de-Cassagnas8.3 km (12 min)
Saint-Sauveur-de-Cruzières8.3 km (14 min)
Rousson9.1 km (9 min)
Rivières9.5 km (13 min)
Saint-Florent-sur-Auzonnet9.8 km (10 min)

Things to see and do

The old medieval town, its old houses with its elaborate windows, steep streets and stairways can be the starting point of a discovery of the city.

The remains of the three successive enclosures erected in the 12th, 13th, and early 17th centuries can be seen along the way: but some of the stones of the second were sold in 1808 by the town for financial reasons. A boulevard is built there. As for the primitive castle, of which only a few remains remain, and with modern ramparts, they were razed by order of Richelieu.

Having largely overflowed from its initial core, the city has retained however some buildings and heritage sites of interest. In addition to the current church and the temple, both of the nineteenth century, this is the case of the chapel of Dugas, built on a rocky promontory overlooking the village. It dates from 1867, in a rather surprising style, with Romanesque bases but decorated with defensive elements (crenellations, tower and turrets) that evoke Viollet-le-Duc.

To see also, the tower Guisquet, raised on a rock towards 1850: the result of a litigation of neighborhood about the property of said rock. To celebrate his victory, the individual who won justice has built this circular tower that has recently been renovated and is now part of the landscape of the city.

On the artisanal and industrial level, the old Bonnet mill, whose foundations date back to the 12th century and which has been rebuilt and enlarged several times, turned into a mill in the 19th century, is worth a detour. Part of the machinery has been preserved and remains visible. The building was restored in 2008.

In addition, former spinning mills are also still present in the municipality, having changed their vocation in recent decades. These factories feature high characteristic semicircular windows.

Fountains, public buildings and bourgeois homes of the nineteenth century can also be noticed. Guided tours of the city, especially its medieval center, are offered in July and August. Information on +33 4 66 24 33 36.

At the cultural level, the town hall houses several paintings and works of the painter and engraver Armand Coussens, born in Saint-Ambroix in 1881. Specialist landscapes, technician famous in the production of etchings (etchings on plates), passed by the school Fine Arts of Nîmes before moving to Paris, he was exposed in New York, Tokyo and London. Free entry. Information on +33 4 66 24 00 02.

As for sports and nature, in summer, the municipal outdoor swimming pool is open in July and August (except holidays). Price: 3.50 euros. Information on +33 4 66 24 17 50.

During the summer period, three bathing spots also dedicated to idleness and the quality of water is controlled, are located on the course of the Cèze at the so-called Pont de Saint-Victor, Moulin du Roc and Beau Shore.

A natural climbing wall and tennis courts are also available for visitors and holidaymakers. Inquire at +33 4 66 24 00 02.

For lovers of hiking, no less than thirty trails and circuits are marked from the town, to discover the Cévennes landscape. Maps and information on +33 4 66 24 33 36.

For those who prefer an equestrian ride, hikes for beginners or advanced riders are proposed by the Horses Centauri. Contact at +33 6 68 92 65 49.

Finally, the farmhouse Mas de Bruguerolle can interest children and adults on Wednesday afternoons. The program includes a French rose garden, tea and hops, beehives, water lilies... Possibility of a picnic. Price: 3 euros. Information on +33 4 66 25 82 17.

Places of interest

Information points
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

In mid-July, for several days, medieval festivals of Volo-Biòu, with fun and musical entertainment, costumed parades... This festival perpetuates the local legend of Volo-Biòu (the beef that flies) according to which in the Middle Ages, the city officials From the city they had the idea of ​​announcing that an ox had been seen flying at Saint-Ambroix. The crowd of neighboring villages came running in the heat and to hydrate themselves, consumed all the reserves of wine that the local population knew of bad quality. And some then saw an ox flying away...

In mid-August, for several days, carnival and floral corso.

The second Sunday of December, Christmas market.

Created in the Middle Ages, the weekly market takes place every Tuesday morning. A good opportunity to appreciate the terroir of the region. An organic market is also organized on Friday morning herbal place, and on Saturday morning, a flea market and garage sale takes place on the field of evolution.

Photos

Panorama of the city
Panorama of the city
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River
River
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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Dugas site with its chapel
Dugas site with its chapel
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The market of Saint-Ambroix
The market of Saint-Ambroix
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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Clock tower
Clock tower
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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The town hall
The town hall
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The Notre-Dame church
The Notre-Dame church
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The Notre-Dame church
The Notre-Dame church
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Chapel of the Virgin
Chapel of the Virgin
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Weather

Tuesday 19 march
Min. 9°C - Max. 21°C
Day
Night
Wednesday 20 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 18°C
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Night
Thursday 21 march
Min. 7°C - Max. 22°C
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Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

To see absolutely: the Pont du Gard, the arenas of Nîmes, the Aven d'Orgnac, the gorges of the Ardèche...

Museums: the most popular museum of the little ones is obviously that of the Haribo candy, but there are many others: the desert (the history of the Camisards), the silk, the santon, the prehistory, the calligraphy...

The Cévennes National Park offers many tourist circuits.

The Camargue, its saline, its horses and its bulls is unforgettable.

For more sports, tree climbing, canyoning, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, paragliding are on the program.

The cave of La Cocalière and its little train are unavoidable.

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Canyoning in the Chassezac Gorges
Sports sensations50 € to 55 € Allègre-les-Fumades (8.7 km)
Horse ride in Païolive wood
Sports sensations10 € to 42 € Berrias-et-Casteljau (14 km)
Via Corda trail at the Jardin d'Endieu - Beginner level - Ardèche
Sports sensations49 € Berrias-et-Casteljau (14.3 km)
Canyoning in the Chassezac Gorges
Sports sensations35 € Casteljau (15.6 km)
Visit an artisanal essential oil distillery
Arts and Crafts4 € to 8 € Saint-Just-et-Vacquières (16.2 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Mine au Bois Dormant Path
HikeIntermediate3:00Robiac-Rochessadoule (5.8 km)
Dolmens walk
HikeEasy1:45Barjac (13.2 km)
Corniche Casteljau
HikeEasy1:30Casteljau (15 km)
The lost trails
HikeIntermediate5:00Bonnevaux (17.9 km)
Winemaker's Trail
HikeEasy2:30Lablachère (22 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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