The heritage of Alès
In the city centre of Alès, discover the ancient heritage of the city, buildings rich in beautiful stones such as the Cathedral Saint-Jean. Built in the 12th century, the cathedral had many setbacks. Rebuilt in the 17th century, it shows today an architectural range of an extreme richness, which was worth its classification with the Historic Monuments. The temple is also a building not to be missed on your visit. Dating from 1854, this temple is in fact the third on this same site. Presenting a neo-Romanesque style, it houses since December 2000 two bells named "David" and "Marie Durand". Finally, the Fort Vauban, or citadel of Alès, emblematic monument of the city, overlooks the latter from the hillock of the Roque. A stronghold since the 10th century with the two castles of the lords of Alès, of which only a 13th century gate remains, it was following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 that the construction of a fort was decided. From 1688, the fort integrates a part of the castle of the barons. With a surface area of 1500 m2, spread over three floors, the fort is U-shaped. A jewel in the crown of Ales' heritage, guided tours are offered all year round by the Tourist Office.
The Bosquet Park
On leaving the citadel, take the time to stroll through the Bosquet Park. Built in the heart of the city around the fort, this park is a haven of peace with flowers and shade. Don't miss the "Terrasses du Bosquet", fabulous ethnobotanical and acclimatisation gardens stretching over 3000 m2. Divided into several areas, the gardens are largely devoted to botanical studies. Visitors are thus invited to discover the gardening techniques of yesterday and today.
The Gardon and the Floral Park of the Prairie
Further south, the district of the meadow is composed of alluvial land. Alongside the Gardon river, this area has been used for pastures, orchards and gardens since the 13th century. For a long time, this district was a pleasant place of walks where guinguettes and dancing in the open air attracted the young alésiens. With its incredible ecological wealth, the town has been keen to enhance the banks of the Gardon by creating a one-kilometre trail where 12 observation posts allow walkers to decipher this formidable biodiversity. Another very beautiful development, the floral park "Les Camellias de la Prairie" with its 300 varieties of camellias represented, the oldest of which are nearly one hundred years old. The park also offers visitors beautiful collections of azaleas, magnolias, hydrangeas and peonies. The tea garden completes the walk: tea trees (Camellia sinensis) were planted in 2016, offering visitors the opportunity to understand the tea harvesting process.
Saint-Christol-lez-Alès
On leaving Alès in the direction of St Christol les Alès, you will follow a route very similar to the one taken by the King's dragoons on 23 December 1702 for the battle of Mas Cauvy during which the Camisards and their leader Jean Cavalier were victorious. At the confluence of the Languedoc plain and the Cevennes mountains, Saint-Christol-lez-Alès surprises by the richness of its hamlets and their heritages. It is around its castle (private residence), and its church of the XIth century that the vestiges are the most evocative of the past of the city. The obelisk, more commonly known as the pyramid, raises the ball that tops it to 13 meters high. Erected in 1777 in honour of Monseigneur de Beauteville, the obelisk commemorates the transformation of the roads linking Montpellier, Alès and Anduze into carriageways. Two other castles, private and visible only from the outside, enliven the landscape of Saint-Christol. The Château d'Arène, built in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 14th century, and the Château de Montmoirac. The latter, located on the heights of the city and overlooking the plain of Gardon, was notably the possession of the Templars.
A mining heritage
Back in Alès, you can't escape the view of the former slag heap of Mount Ricateau, a brownish dome that seems to watch over the city. The memory of the city's mining past is still present, particularly through its Mine Témoin, a key heritage of the Alès identity. An exceptional mining work of art, this heritage is a tool, a mine-school where apprentices-miners came in large numbers from 1945 to 1968. Two centuries of mining techniques are represented here. Over 700 metres of galleries, visitors are plunged into the daily life of the black faces. A journey back in time at a depth of 400 metres: a life-size immersion in the blackish bowels of the largest natural network that can be visited in France. A unique experience!
