Uzès, France, A Place To Call Home
Uzès, A Place To Call Home
Anyone looking to buy a French property in the South of France should certainly visit Uzès in the Gard. Known as the Tuscany of France it is also referred to as the jewel in the crown of France. And commonly called Provençal Uzès. It’s maze of medieval, cobbled streets, it’s elegant mansions, boutique shops and local restaurants and cafes all add to the charm of this lovely place which is home to the First Duke of France.
Being in the South of France, Uzès enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year, early springs, hot summers and long warm autumns make it an ideal place to call home. No wonder so many people fall in love with this elegant town and arrive in search of French property for sale here.
One of the joys of living in Uzès is that when the summer season arrives you can enjoy all the hustle and bustle of a town alive with holidaymakers. There are all the special festivals and happenings to tempt the visitors, art exhibitions, music festivals, bull running and many more. However, there are also the hidden corners of the town, frequented by the locals, where you can still buy your glass of red wine for a euro or two and catch up on news and views, feeling rather smug as you look at new arrivals looking in the estate agents’ windows at French property for sale.
And Once The Holidaymakers Have Gone?
The local French population of Uzès and the foreign newcomers, who have been arriving here since the sixties to buy French property, all look forward to the arrival of September. The Rentrée, when families reluctantly return to their own parts of France ready for the new school term. The heat of the summer tends to reduce and no longer is it necessary to sit in the shade of the Place aux Herbes for morning coffee. Cafés in the sun suddenly become more popular once again. The holidaymakers have mainly left and residents can claim Uzès as their own.
There is no doubt that most residents enjoy the sense of fiesta that summer visitors bring to the town but there is also no doubt that most locals breathe a sigh of relief to be able to settle down to enjoy a more peaceful existence as autumn approaches. The contrast between the high summer season and the rest of the year is one of the many things that makes living In Uzès so special. Autumn days are a delight, the weather remains warm, it’s time to catch up with local friends and enjoy the major harvest of the year.
Driving around the outskirts of the town you will certainly need to allow extra time as inevitably you will find yourself behind a tractor and trailer brimming over with freshly picked grapes. The smell of crushed grapes permeates every corner of the area and you begin to feel drunk of the aroma. The town gets ready to celebrate the vendange (harvest) with processions and wine tastings. This big event is closely followed by fig festivals and chestnut fairs in the surrounding area. And before you know it, Christmas is just around the corner with the Christmas market in the Place aux Herbes in the centre of the town and concerts of English and French carols in the church and cathedral, the food shops selling special delicacies and the Christmas lights going up.
Winter In Uzès France
Once Christmas is over life really quietens down in the town for a week or two until the annual truffle fair at the end of January. An orchard is created in the Place aux Herbes and you can join the crowds to watch dogs search for truffles planted in the earth. Should you tire of this occupation you can choose which of, the many restaurants you will visit to enjoy the special truffle menu with a bottle of local wine.
February remains quiet and even March too, although there is the weekly bustle of the Provençal market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Whatever the time of year the Saturday market attracts many visitors and the town becomes alive again. And suddenly it’s Easter and the festivities begin again. Winter or summer, living in Uzès is the most wonderful experience. For me, it’s the very best part of France in which to live.
