Nestled in the heart of the Cèze Valley, the lovely village of Goudargues has earned the poetic nickname “Little Venice of the Gard”.

This evocative title springs from the shaded canal, lined by majestic plane trees, which flows through the village and creates a bucolic, festive atmosphere, especially in summer.

Halfway between two refreshing dips in the clear waters of the Cèze, Goudargues draws visitors with its lively cafés and restaurants. It’s the ideal place for a leisurely stroll, to enjoy colourful markets, and to delight in the lively summer entertainment that enchants young and old alike.

The village bears traces of an ancient past. Founded by the Romans near an oppidum on a nearby hill, the site truly flourished with the construction of a large abbey in the early Middle Ages. Of this monument, the restored abbey church remains, now hosting art exhibitions.

Goudargues did not escape the upheavals of history. It endured the Albigensian Crusade, the ravages of the fearsome “Routiers” during the Hundred Years’ War, the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, and the Camisard War in the 18th century, not to mention the turmoil of the French Revolution. Even the Cèze has shown its capricious nature, as the great flood of 2002 attests.

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Forged by these trials, Goudargues today is a delightful village at the heart of a region teeming with outdoor activities, whether in the nearby Cèze river or the surrounding countryside.