Saint-Gilles is like an open-air museum, a town with a rich historic and cultural legacy, set close to typical Camargue countryside. Its renown derives from its links to a Greek hermit called Gilles, who founded a monastery here in the Dark Ages that became a place of pilgrimage and gave rise to many legends. In medieval times, it was an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela what with its major abbey, now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Look out too for the town’s rare Romanesque houses and visit its museum to learn more about its exceptional past.
Custom route
Custom route
Beaucaire / St-Gilles
A provisional signposted stretch of cycle route has been put in place between Beaucaire and Saint-Gilles while awaiting the creation of a dedicated route alongside the Canal du Rhône à Sète. At present, you follow quiet roads into the start of the Camargue plain, cycling amidst fields divided up by irrigation canals. Saint-Gilles with its medieval centre takes visitors back to major pilgrimage times. Beyond town stand slopes producing Costières de Nîmes wines.
Saint-Gilles / Aigues-Mortes
The ViaRhôna route has been set up between Gallician and Aigues-Mortes. On this stage along a greenway, you cross a portion of the Camargue Gardoise (the western, Languedoc side of the Camargue). The flora and fauna are exceptional. You cycle along the former towpaths beside the Canal du Rhône à Sète, crossing through typical marshland to reach the splendid walled port of Aigues-Mortes, set amidst marshes, vineyards and saltpans. Take in these extraordinary landscapes from the top of the Tour Carbonnière, an historic guards’ tower. Two further cycling circuits starting from Gallician enable you to discover more of the surrounding vines, marshes and reedbeds.