Saint-Bonnet-Du-Gard: Hiking and Heritage

Saint-Bonnet-Du-Gard offers two clear themes for planning a trip: hiking and heritage. Trails lead to archaeological sites or through garrigue and vineyards; sections of the Nîmes aqueduct are also visible in the village. The historic buildings and varied routes give you concrete ideas for which aspects of the area you would like to explore further.

Church and Historic Buildings

The Church of Saint-Bonnet is a fortified Romanesque church. Its architectural features include a former fortified porch, a wall walk above the vaults, and crenellated levels above the transept arms. It was classified as a Monument historique on February 7, 1907. These details make the church a distinctive part of the local heritage and provide a concrete context for its fortified architecture.

The area around the medieval gate also showcases a different historic architectural form: beyond it runs a steep path paved with pebbles. This type of cobbled path, known as a calade, is typical of the Midi. The covered fountain and washhouse adds another historic landmark. It was built in 1861; as early as 1806, a fountain had been built under Napoleon I to replace a capitelle. The two dates mark distinct stages in the village’s building history.

Archaeological Traces on the Gardon

The Oppidum of Marduel offers a glimpse into a much earlier period. Most of its archaeological remains are located in Saint-Bonnet-Du-Gard. The oppidum overlooked a ford across the Gardon; a monumental rampart was built there around 525 BC. At this same site, the location at a river crossing and a specific example of early fortification stand side by side.

The Sentier des Volques leads to the Oppidum of Marduel and passes through vineyards and garrigue. The route is described as suitable for families, marked in yellow, and equipped with signposting and wayfinding features. It thus combines a walk through the landscape with a clearly identified archaeological destination. Anyone interested in early settlement history can choose the route for this destination; the suitability information applies to this trail.

Roman heritage also includes the Gallo-Roman archaeological site of the Nîmes aqueduct, which is protected as a Monument historique, and several sections of the aqueduct that are visible in the village. The Sentier de l’aqueduc et des tunnels romains passes through the garrigue to the Vallon d’Escaunes site. The religious crosses of Saint-Bonnet-Du-Gard can be explored on a walk through the commune. These sites complement one another thematically without needing to be combined into a single set route.

Hikes with Different Highlights

The Le Pont du Gard hike is an 18.6-kilometer circular route that takes five hours. It starts and ends at Place de la Fontaine, where parking is recommended. The route is marked with PR départementale and GR® waymarks. It passes through the garrigue and reveals hidden remains of the former Roman aqueduct, which ran from Uzès to Nîmes.

The duration of this circular hike makes it possible to plan your time concretely. The Sentier des Volques, by contrast, has a different focus: its destination is the Oppidum of Marduel, and its passage through vineyards and garrigue shapes the landscape experience. So different questions can help you choose between the trails: would you prefer a circular route with a stated duration and distance, or are you especially interested in a trail leading to an archaeological site? This does not imply a connection between the two routes.

Trail conditions and access and parking regulations may change. Check the latest information before your hike, especially if you plan to use the recommended parking at Place de la Fontaine.

Discover more destinations: Tornac, Laudun-L'ardoise, Lussan, Cardet, Roquemaure, Saint-Pons-La-Calm, Lamelouze, Venejan.

For the regional travel overview: Gard.