St-Jean-du-Gard

Saint-Jean-du-Gard is a small town in the Cévennes, in the Gard department, sitting at the confluence of the Gardon de Saint-Jean and Gardon de Mialet rivers. It marks the gateway to the Cévennes National Park and is the terminus of the Cévennes steam railway, which links the town to Anduze through the Gardon gorges. The old town retains narrow lanes, characterful stone houses and a bridge over the river, reflecting a history closely tied to silk production and silkworm rearing, an industry once central to the local economy and now documented at the Musée des Vallées Cévenoles. The area's Protestant history, including the Camisard uprising, can also be traced through nearby sites, while the national park's walking trails and the scenic Corniche des Cévennes road offer views over the surrounding valleys. A weekly market brings life to the town centre. The Mediterranean climate, tempered by mountain influences, allows for river swimming in the Gardon during summer. Nearby Anduze, with its bamboo garden, and the village of Mialet round out the area's attractions within an unspoilt rural Cévennes setting.