I used to come to this area a long time ago, initially just for a few weekends to stsy with friends, before eventually buying a holiday home here. I discovered a unique landscape, where hills, wooded countryside and forests come together to form a countryside gently shaped by human hands, at times reminiscent of a discreet French Tuscany. The evening light here has a rare quality, gliding over historical buildings that have remained intact, preserved with care and respect for their history. Over the years, I have developed a deep attachment to this area. This property is now a natural expression of that: it embodies what I wish to convey – a place where history, architecture and the landscape come together in perfect harmony. More than just an acquisition, this project is a way of living with and sharing a living heritage whose authenticity is fully respected.
Set on a promontory overlooking the Gardon and the old road linking Nîmes to Uzès, the estate covers twelve hectares. The location was chosen for strategic reasons: the site once controlled the crossing over the Gardon and occupied a key position on the direct route linking the Mediterranean to Avignon. The complex comprises seven buildings, four of which are listed as Historic Monuments: one is listed in its entirety, whilst three others have their facades and roofs listed. A 1000-year-old Romanesque church forms the heart of the site’s heritage, alongside the remains of a cloister and a building dating from the year 960, which is probably the oldest on the site. A remarkable, intact dovecote still retains all 255 of its original nesting boxes. Over the centuries, different architectural styles have been layered one upon another, creating a rare ensemble that is deeply imbued with the passage of time.
First mentioned in 896, the hamlet was then granted by Louis III the Blind to Amelius II, Bishop of Uzès. In 1156, Louis VII confirmed to Raymond II his ownership of the estate, on which a Romanesque priory, built in the early 12th century, already stood. Between 1245 and 1260, the Pontifical Brothers built the Saint-Nicolas-de-Campagnac Bridge, a vital link between Nîmes and Uzès. Devastated during the Wars of Religion and subsequently abandoned, the site was revived in the 17th century under the leadership of the canons of Sainte-Geneviève. Its watchtower serves as a reminder of the strategic importance of the crossing over the Gardon. Confiscated as national property during the Revolution and later used as farmland, the site was transformed in the 19th century when the road was built under Napoleon III. Listed as a historic monument since 1987, the priory has over a thousand years of history. Acquired in 2020, it is currently undergoing an eco-friendly restoration aimed at bringing it back to life.
Set within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a biosphere reserve and a Natura 2000 area, the estate brings together heritage, culture and the art of living. "Les Rencontres du Prieuré" breathes new life into the old chapel through concerts, readings, exhibitions and artist talks, in a spirit of passing on knowledge and sharing. The cloister garden, the bar and the large tables allow you to savour these moments in a friendly atmosphere. The chapel also hosts "Les Grands Dîners", which can accommodate up to200 guests. In the old farm barn, which has been converted into a wine cellar, visitors can find the estate’s produce – garrigue honey, olive oil, herbal teas and tapenades – as well as a selection of regional wines. Our restaurant, "Locus Solus", specialises in seasonal cuisine prepared using locally sourced produce and inspired by the flavours of the Gard region.
In Uzès, "La Famille", run by Jean-Louis Trintignant’s grandson, offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, serving hearty dishes and refined tapas. In Anduze, the Musée du Désert traces the history of the Huguenots and the Camisards in the birthplace of Pierre Laporte, known as Rolland. "Le Garage des Cévennes" combines a food hall, café and restaurant in a friendly atmosphere. "La Poterie de la Madeleine" has been keeping the tradition of the Anduze vase alive for over four centuries. In Nîmes, "Le Coin", located near the Arena, serves entirely home-cooked food. Finally, "La Bambouseraie en Cévennes", ranked among the most beautiful gardens in France, offers a truly remarkable immersion into the world of plants.
The property offers eleven rooms spread across two separate buildings. La Maison du Cloître has six rooms on two floors: four double rooms with a sofa bed and a shower room (sleeping up to 4 people) and two family suites with en-suite bathrooms, comprising a double bedroom and a children’s bedroom with three single beds, sleeping up to five people. La Maison du Réfectoire comprises five rooms spread over two floors: a suite with a terrace on the ground floor (up to 4 people), three double rooms with en-suite bathrooms on the first floor, and a family room with an en-suite bathroom and a mezzanine, accommodating four people.
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Rental of the estate includes two houses, as well as all the communal areas: a 12th-century chapel, gardens and terraces, several reception areas – a bar, a tasting room and a crypt – a natural swimming pool and a boules court. La Maison du Cloître offers six rooms spread over two floors: four double rooms with a sofa bed and a shower room (sleeping up to four people) and two family suites with en-suite bathrooms, comprising a double bedroom and a children’s bedroom with three single beds, sleeping up to five people. La Maison du Réfectoire comprises five bedrooms spread over two floors: a suite with a terrace on the ground floor (sleeps up to four), three double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms on the first floor, and a family room with an en-suite bathroom and a mezzanine that can accommodate four people.
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The property comprises two houses, which can be rented together or separately. La maison du Cloître has six bedrooms spread over two floors, on the first and second floors. On the first floor, two double bedrooms with sofa beds can each accommodate up to four people and have their own shower room. A two-bedroom family suite completes this floor: it comprises a double bedroom and a children’s bedroom with three single beds, sleeping up to five people, and features a shower room. On the second floor, the layout is the same, with two double bedrooms each featuring a sofa bed and an en-suite shower room, as well as a second family suite comprising a double bedroom and a children’s bedroom with three single beds, along with a bathroom. La maison du Réfectoire comprises five bedrooms spread across the ground floor and first floor. On the ground floor, a double bedroom with a terrace can be converted into a self-contained suite thanks to a sitting area with a sofa bed, accommodating up to four people, complete with a bathroom. On the first floor, there are three double bedrooms, each sleeping two people and featuring an en-suite bathroom. A family room completes the suite, featuring a double bed and two single beds on a mezzanine level, accommodating up to four people, and its own bathroom. Rental of the estate includes two houses, as well as all the communal areas: a 12th-century chapel, gardens and terraces, several reception areas – a bar, a tasting room and a crypt – a natural swimming pool and a boules court.
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The Crypt Shop, located in the former crypt of the priory, sells a selection of local and artisanal products.
The priory offers wellness weekends focusing on yoga, meditation and relaxation, with accommodation available in the on-site guest rooms.
“Les Rencontres du Prieuré” hosts concerts in the old chapel throughout the year, with the option to extend the experience with a table d’hôte dinner organised after certain events.
The priory’s wine cellar, housed in a former agricultural warehouse that has been converted into a wine cellar, offers tastings of regional wines.
The priory hosts exhibitions throughout the year in the gardens and communal areas of the estate.
The "Locus Solus" restaurant welcomes guests staying at the estate as well as visitors, subject to booking.
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