At the gates of the Camargue, Sommières la médiévale fascinates many visitors. Lovers of history, architecture, unspoilt nature and stays in the countryside? You've come to the right place!
Often compared to Uzès without its affluence, Sommières is an invitation to calm and contemplation. Between the Cévennes and the Mediterranean, halfway between Nîmes and Montpellier, Sommières is one of these "Petites Cités de Caractère" for which you will necessarily fall in love. Watered by the Vidourle river, this charming medieval village is an open-air history book, which will allow you to discover the splendours of past centuries through its narrow streets. For more than 2000 years now, Sommières has been a pivotal city, built at a strategic crossroads for the region's economy: built on the Vie Lutevia, which linked Nîmes to Toulouse, this historic city has very beautiful testimonies to its past development. Dominating the whole city and its walls, the royal castle of Sommière attests to the essential character of this medieval fortified town. You can visit this fortress, and enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Vidourle valley, Mont Aigoual, the Cévennes and the Pic de Saint-Loup from the flat roof of its keep (the Tour Bermont), accessible after climbing the many steps of its spiral staircase. Built on the Lutevia Life, the Ancient Bridge of Sommières is the emblem of the city: built in the 1st century, this bridge, which originally had 17 arches, now has only 7, the other 10 having been swallowed up by houses and new constructions. Take the time to stroll around, on foot or by bike, to enter the fortified city. The period castle complex is quite well preserved, so you can discover some vestiges of the city's past, such as its dungeons, private mansions, medieval gates, chapels, dwellings and thick ramparts. Go around the urban area that surrounds the city via the Pont Habité, go through the rue des Baumes, the Convent of the Ursulines, the ancient arches, the Place Saussine, the Porte du Bourguet, the Saint-Pons church, then stop at the Place du Marché: famous throughout the Pays de Sommières, this weekly market attracts many visitors as well as regulars who love local products. Fresh and local products have a prominent place, as do wines and small dishes from the Cévennes and Gard cuisine. Licorice comes in all its forms (certainly the reason why Haribo created a Candy Museum in Uzès), in tea, pure or candy. Candied fruits, strawberries, onions, black truffles, olives, fougasse with grattons, pelardons, chestnuts, game and sausages complete the range of flavours of local cuisine.
Hiking enthusiasts? Sommières has a few walking trails, perfect for discovering the village and its surroundings. The "Terres de Sommières" tour will guide you in your search for the architectural treasures of the city. More keen on green walks? The fertile land surrounding Sommières will be a privileged playground for you: what could be better than a walk in the heart of the scrubland scented with lavender, rosemary or thyme essences? Finally, the loop "Les carrières de Jaunas depuis Sommières" will delight mountain bikers thanks to 25 kilometres of trails, via a green path that will allow you to discover the quarries of Jaunas and superb panoramic views over Sommières.
