Beaucaire

Visit Beaucaire, Languedoc-Roussillon

Beaucaire is at the eastern edge of the Gard department, to the east of Nimes. The town is closely linked to Tarascon, which is found just across the Rhone River from Beaucaire (in the Provence region).

Beaucaire is a pleasant town in a nice setting on the river bank (likewise Tarascon, which is likely to be visited at the same time). Unusually, the town also has a port, on the Sete-Rhone canal, which acts as the centre of the town.

Explore Beaucaire

Although the main advantage of Beaucaire for visitors is its great location between and close to the towns of Arles, Nimes and Avignon, and its setting between the Rhone River and the Canal du Rhone a Sete, be sure to investigate Beaucaire itself.

The main feature that you will see on the river is the castle at Tarascon. Beaucaire itself also has an impressive ruined castle standing above the town, with an unusual triangular donjon. The castle is also the location for a popular display of birds of prey known as 'Les Aigles de Beaucaire'.

Other places of interest include the baroque style Church of Notre-Dame des Pommiers (18th century) and the Church of Saint-Paul, best known for its unusually decorated spire.

There are also several 17th and 18th century townhouses of architectural interest in Beaucaire such as the baroque facade of the Hotel Margailler, the towers of the Hotel Dulong (Rue Barbès), the Hotel de Clausonnette and the unusual facade of the Hotel de Roys de Lédignan.

Some of the monuments are a little hidden in side streets so start your visit at Beaucaire tourist office on Cours Gambetta, where you can get a map highlighting each place of interest.

Note: a major event in the life of Beaucaire is the celebrations that take place in the second half of June to celebrate the dragon called 'drac' who, it is said, lived in the river 800 years ago and very frequently emerged to eat people. Unfortunately for those concerned the dragon was invisible, which made him rather hard to stop...

Another festival is held towards the end of July, which includes bulls charging through the streets and everyone having a good time!

Places to visit near Beaucaire

Apart from visiting Arles, Avignon and Nimes there are some other interesting sites to visit close to Beaucaire. These include:

- the Abbey of Saint-Roman, just outside the town, is a fine troglodyte abbey. The abbey was carved out of the soft rock by monks in the 5th century. Several rooms including the chapel can be visited and this unique abbey is on a hill and has fine views out across Provence.

- at the Mas des Tourelles (take the St Gilles road from Beaucaire) there is an interesting recreation of a roman vineyard, garden and wine cellar where you can also taste 'almost authentic 2000 year old wine'.

Tourist classifications for Beaucaire: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*; Recommended detour town (plus beau detour); Listed town of Art and History; 'Historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé);

Suggested places to visit near Beaucaire, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Arles 15km; Saint-Remy-de-Provence 15km; Glanum 16km; Pont du Gard 18km; Avignon 20km; Villeneuve-les-Avignon 22km; Fort Saint-Andre 22km; Nimes 23km; Uzes 29km; Orange 39km; Pernes-les-Fontaines 39km; Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 41km; Camargue 41km; Salon-de-Provence 41km; Oppede-le-Vieux 42km; Carpentras 43km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Beaucaire

Beaucaire tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin aquatique « Aux fleurs de l'eau - remarkable garden (11km) : Eglise et cloitres de Saint Trophime, Eglise de Saint-Honorat des Alycamps (Arles) - religious monument (15km) : Alpilles - regional natural parc (16km) : Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Repos de Montfavet (Avignon) - religious monument (20km) : Abbaye de Saint-Gilles (Saint-Gilles) - religious monument (22km) : Jardins de la Fontaine - remarkable garden (23km) : Jardin de l'Alchimiste - remarkable garden (25km) : Abbaye Notre Dame de Montmajour (Arles) - religious monument (29km) :

French version: see Beaucaire (Francais)