"Les Olivettes", Saint-Siffret

St Siffret village and surrounding area:

The village of St Siffret has commanding views over the tranquil valley below. The area is surrounded by fragrant fields of lavender and thyme, and provides a picture of colour.

Along with with 2 renovated châteaux, the village boasts this 12th century Roman-Byzantine church in typical Provencal style.

It’s a very old village with charming, narrow, picturesque streets. It has 2 restaurants, and bread and local provisions can be obtained a short distance away in St Quentin la Poterie.

St Quentin la Poterie is famous for its hand-made pots and for the annual festival on the 1st May, when the pots are for sale at hugely discounted prices!

The typical tree-lined very quiet roads lead you to the villages of Arpaillargues which, with its museum of ancient toys and trains will appeal to young and old, and Serviers which has an aquatic park “La Bouscarasse”.

Uzès:

Uzès is steeped in history, originating in the Roman times, and contains the Duchy, which has been owned in the same family for over a thousand years. It is the premier Duchy of France, and the Duke and Duchess are still in residence today.

The town itself thrives, with tree-lined avenues and a vast array of art and craft shops, antiques and, or course, a large number of restaurants. It is very much what many people imagine a Provencal town would look like. Well here, it’s real!

More details on Uzès can be found at: www.ville-uzes.fr (English pages not available yet, but on their way) and information on the Duchy at www.duche-uzes.fr (English pages available).

Tourist attractions:

Only a few miles away lies the main tourist town of Avignon (and yes the words of the song are available when you go there), which is very beautiful.

A must to visit in Avignon is the Palais de Papes (the Palace of the Popes).

The whole area is very Romanesque by nature. Many towns still contain amphitheatre that are in use today – for example Nîmes (shown here) and Arles. Montpelier, with its very effective tram system is also a short distance away.

Nearby is the famous Pont du Gard, one of the finest complete examples of a Roman aqueduct, which has been well preserved. The best way to get to see the pont du gard is by canoe - as you go right underneath it!

A short drive away is the amazing new Millau viaduct which is worth a look - not least because it's higher than the Eiffel Tower.

For those who like sport, the area is well supported by Golf courses. Tennis courts are available in the village. There is plenty of opportunity for cycling and walking, and for those who want the sea, it is only 1 hour away by car.