Where are we?   gateway to Provence   Situated 5kms to the north of wonderful Uzès, Saint Quentin la Poterie is ideally situated to make the most of this wonderful area. Saint Quentin la Poterie is in the Gard department of France, itself part of the Languedoc Roussillon region. We are about 45minutes drive from Avignon and 30 minutes from Nimes. See how to get here for tips on how best to reach us.   on your doorstep   The local village has all the charm and character you would expect from a community who's origins date back to the 12th century. Being one of the larger villages in the area, it is extremely well served with its own supermarket, two bars, four restaurants, pharmacy, doctor and a plethora of Boulangeries, all within five minutes walk of the house.     up the road a little   "Uzes is the Hampstead of Provence" - Daily Mail April 2004 (to view download, right click and "save target as" on your machine, then open.) 5km away is Uzes, a lively medieval town, distinguished as the first Duché of France. With its fine chateau and various towers and fortress buildings dating from the 12th century, it has been a national protected site since the 1950s. There is a huge market every Saturday in the central Place aux Herbes and throughout the town, as well as a smaller, local market on Wednesdays. The town is full of shops and restaurants; there are banks, a bus station, and a cinema. Uzès is also the home to two summer festivals, one celebrating ancient music and the other modern dance.     further afield   Uzès is surrounded by picturesque towns and villages, each with its own character. The village is wonderfully situated in the Uzège region to the West of Avignon, making it a perfect spot to explore the valleys of the Ardeche to the North, the vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape and Tavel to the East, the wonderful wetlands of the Camargue to the south.     Provence - are we in Provence?   Not in the current administrative sense of the word. Since 1972 France has been divided in 22 Regions, and Saint Quentin la Poterie, in the Gard department is part of Languedoc Roussillon. However there is more to the story than administrative definitions. To many people the concept of Provence transcends any political definitions and refers to the history, the land and the culture of this part of France. Indeed if you pick up any book on Provence (e.g. the Michelin Green Guide to Provence) you will find Saint Quentin la Poterie and Uzès listed. This reflects the origins of the Provence we know today which was at one time one of the first provinces outside of Roman Italy. Many remains from this day can still be seen in the area, including amphitheatres at Nimes, the Roman aqueduct known as the Pont du Gard, and numerous roads. This ambiguity even endured to the 20th century definitions of the Regions. In the 1950's Serge Antoine was assigned to better define the limits of the regions. In order to solve the problems, Antoine used data from the telephone exchanges, incorporating the problematic departments to the regions to which they phoned the most. For instance, the department of Gard was incorporated to Languedoc rather to Provence because the inhabitants of its préfecture, Nîmes, phoned more often to Montpellier than to Marseilles. (source: flags of the world website) In summary, Provence has had a long and complicated history. Saint Quentin la Poterie and Uzès, whilst not in the current definition of Provence, remain for many, quintessential Provençal villages. Indeed many prefer this part of "Provence" as it has been less spoilt by tourism and retains a certain authentic feel.
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