Discover Ners: Routes, History and Landscape

Ners brings together historic buildings, ancient routes and a landscape of vineyards, wooded slopes and the Gardon. If you are looking for a hotel in Ners, you can start planning your trip by deciding whether you are particularly interested in architectural history, hiking trails, landscape or activities on the river. The places and connections within the commune offer specific points of reference.

Castle, Watchtower and Church

The Château de Ners was altered in 1480 under Louis XI; its rusticated walls have been preserved. In Ners, you can also admire a watchtower dating from the 12th century. The Church of Saint Sauveur was built at the foot of Ners hill, on the site of a spring. The castle, tower and church represent different aspects of the area's history: the château dates to the 15th century, while the watchtower is considerably older. The church's location points to a spring on the slope. Together, these buildings offer a specific starting point if you are interested in historic architecture and local history on your trip to Ners.

Voie Régordane and long-distance trails

Ners lies on the Voie Régordane, an ancient Celtic route that the Romans later developed as a link between Saint-Gilles and Le Puy-en-Velay. The history of the Gardon is also connected with crossings: Ners was a ferry crossing where merchants, pilgrims, crusaders and armed men crossed the river. A toll for the crossing was introduced in the 12th century; it was called “néré”. The river crossing and the ancient route give local history its own distinctive focus.

Two long-distance trails pass through Ners. The GR 700 follows the former Voie Régordane, and the GR 6 also passes through the village. On the GR 700, the connection with the historic route is part of the trail; the GR 6 provides another point of reference as a second long-distance trail through Ners. If you would like to combine your trip with hiking, these two trail names offer specific points of reference. No walking time or particular distance is specified.

Bridge and architectural features in the village

The Pont de Ners was the village's first stone bridge. The combined viaduct, almost 230 metres long, carries a road and a double-track railway; a tunnel also passes through the hills of Ners. Historically, the Pont was used to transport coal from the Cévennes basin to the ports on the Rhône. The bridge thus brings together several aspects of local history: its importance as the village's stone bridge, its present-day form as described here, and its former role in coal transport.

Smaller architectural features also shape the village's appearance. Ners has large houses built on the sites of former magnaneries. Magnaneries were silkworm-rearing establishments. Numerous vaulted passageways and covered walkways connecting the houses add to these architectural features. If you are interested in architectural history, the village offers not only individual landmarks but also details visible across several houses.

Landscape, spring and Gardon

Ners's landscapes include vineyards, wooded slopes, vegetable-growing plots and orchards. In the distance, the distinctive outline of the Cévennes mountains can be seen. This landscape offers a different focus from the history of the area's routes and buildings and can be a theme in its own right when planning your trip.

The Guillaumet spring in Ners is channelled. The Canalet enables family gardens to be irrigated. The Gardon offers opportunities for fishing in Ners: beneath the bridge, along the banks and at the weir. Landscape, water and fishing therefore provide further specific topics alongside the historic buildings and long-distance trails.

Ners brings these themes together without requiring you to have the same travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Just-Et-Vacquières, Belvezet, La Grand'combe, Massillargues-Attuech, Le Vigan, Verfeuil, Saint-Gervais, Pont-Saint-Esprit.

For the regional travel overview: Gard.