Vauvert (30600)

 

 

Vauvert, canton town of some 20,000 inhabitants in total, sometimes referred to as the "door to the Camargue" lies between Nimes and Montpellier, and is on the main rout linking Montpellier to Marseilles, passing through St. Gilles, Arles and various other well known towns.

The area is largely fruit and vegetable producing such articles as Asparagus,salads,tomatoes,vines,peaches,nectarines,apricots, cherries etc, together with rice from the Camargue and its wines (the well known "Costieres") are very agreeable.

 

Eels and sander are fished in the "etangs" surrounding the village.

The town is some 20 kilometres from the beaches of the Grau-du-Roi, Les Saintes Maries-de-la-mer,and the well known fortress town of Aigues Mortes (salt producing) which is well worth a visit.

The area is considerably cheaper than its Herault neighbours, and bacause of this, many foreign tourists are now investing in property purchase, but the original spirit of the town still exists.

Within the canton there is a nautical stopping point (Gallicien) and two camping sites (at least) exist.

The main pastimes are Tauromachie, all village festivities starting and ending with bulls in the streets etc.

The arenas have been recently rebuilt, and not only used for the traditional bull events-generally for the razateur events and more rarely for Corridas- but also for high ranking concerts of all types.Recently an annual "Corrida" was introduced, in the month of June, normally.

The town itself is being "redone" as a pedestrian friendly place, and the Market days are Wednesday and Saturday.

"Le diableries de Vauvert" is an ancient custom, held in the streets at the end of May, the village fete is mid August, and the International Festival of "fil de Vauvert"- a sort of celebration of fashion, seamstress work and shows is held annually around May-June time.

The local Tourist Office has a large selection of pamphlets and can arrange visits/accomodation.

The village of Vergeze (home of Perrier mineral water) is only 3km's away, and can be visited.

"Boules Lyonnaise" are played, the centre of the town is exceptionally "French" with the Place Gambetta, fountain, Eglise, Cafes etc. It is not unusual to see ladies in their Camarguaise dresses in the streets.

 

Yearly there are various Markets "terroir", fleamarkets, Camarguaises/Provencales etc.

The supermarkets Champion, Lidl, Ecomarche are installed, and there are plans for further commercial centres.

Unfortunately, like most French provincial towns, the centre is running down. More and more small shops are closing, destroying the character of the village, but everything can still be found in the "epi-centre".

Although a sort of "dormitory" town for Nimes and Montpellier, and to some extent Marseille, many of the inhabitants work in the surrounding fruit/veg and fishing industries.

Worth a trip, but plan it correctly to profit from the visits possible in the town and the area!

 

iwmpop

http://vauvertvillage.blogspot.com - Pictures of the town and people.

 

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