Since the beginning of time, Sommieres has been a crossing point, where the Roman roads from Nimes to Toulouse and Lodeve meet at the centre of the town at the Tibere bridge, built in the first century AD. A walk around the old town will let your imagination run riot when you learn about its history, such as the blocking of royal power in the 13^th century and the religious wars in the 17^th century.  You will also see how the river Vidourle that goes through the town, has left its mark on the streets and houses, as well as its inhabitants over hundreds of years.  It is clear that Sommieres incorporates flavours of the west and the east, a feature of Provence and its houses in the little streets are typical of those you can see in well known towns nearby such as Uzes and Aigues-Mortes.

In Sommieres, tradition can be seen everywhere:

·                    lots of little shops and businesses, offering a wide range of goods,

·                    a very well known Saturday market in the square at the centre of the town, to which people come from all over the region, looking for local fruit, vegetables, cheese and meat, as well as a range of other goods,

·                    a medieval festival organised in the last week end of April,

·                    a programme of bullfighting events, culminating in a local festival at the end of July/beginning of August.

Sommieres was chosen as the place to live and write by the writer, Lawrence Durrell but has also been the source of inspiration for other well known artists, such as Jacqueline Gaussen Salmon and Jacques Bollo.

Three neighbouring communes also have a role to play in offering entertainment to its inhabitants as well as its visitors: Villevielle and Salinelles organise classical musical evenings during July and August, Junas has its Jazz Festival at the end of July in a fairytale setting.

Nearby, you can find lots of walks, and we will show you the best ones,  where you can go by foot, SUVs,  4x4s or on horseback.  You can also make the most of a range of golf courses, all easily accessible, at Nimes Vacquerolle, Nimes Campagne, Massane, La Grande-Motte to name a few……….or you can discover a range of local produce such as olive oil, wine, goats’ cheese, honey! 

There are many local vineyards where you can taste wine and the proprietors will be very happy to explain to you the process of making wine and where you can buy the wine at very favourable prices. 

If you want to go further, Sommieres is ideally placed for touring in one of the most beautiful areas of France:

Nimes, Montpellier, Aigues-Mortes, Le Grand du Roi and the beach at L’Espiguette are less than half an hour away!

A little further away, you can find the beautiful Cevennes mountains, the delightful marshland of the Camargues with its white horses and beautiful pink flamingos.  Arles with its Roman arena, Anduzes where you can find a fabulous bamboo plantation and the well known Provencal potteries closeby, the charming town of Uzes and its medieval buildings, the Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard and the ancient caves at the Grottes des Demoiselles.

For an interesting day’s outing, why not go to Avignon or Les Baux de Provence?  On the coast, Sète has delicious seafood restaurants or you can spend a lazy day, wandering around inland towns such as Bezier, Saint Guilhem du Désert and lots of others in the area.

 Visit us for a wonderful holiday which offers something for everyone!

webmaster: jean-francois.gaudriault@sommieres.fr  

 copyright: masdavignon ©