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On the Potters' Trail…
From Uzès, take the Bagnols sur Cèze road, then the D23 to Saint
Quentin la Poterie, the first stop on our tour and the main town in a region traditionally dedicated to crafts associated with earth and fire. And if you need convincing, leave your car in the Place des Halles and wander on foot through the small alleyways where you will find all the potters. There are 12 workshops, the Musée de la Céramique, la Galerie Terra Viva and one of the oldest kilns still in use, which prove that the pottery tradition lives on. The title 'Ville Métiers d'Art', given to the town in 1991, confirms this revival of an ancient tradition.
Take the D5 to Vallabrix. Here, rather than potteries, there are quartz quarries, which overlook this picturesque village built around a Romanesque church and a Renaissance château. Follow directions for la
Capelle et Masmolène is an attractive hamlet with a restored chapel and is separated from the village of La Capelle (800 m) by a mass of sandstone and quartz rock. At La Capelle, the impressive 12th century château dominates the village and is listed as one of the most picturesque sights in the Gard. Below the village, the 42-hectare lagoon gives the impression of being in the Camargue. The D125 takes you to Saint
Victor des Oules, which has astonishing mineral resources. Here, generations of potters have passed on the skill of making these « oules » (which means pots with handles). These days, the quartz quarries have taken over.
Did you know ?
Saint Quentin, the potters' village, is also the village where Joseph Monnier, the inventor of reinforced concrete, was born. The market hall in the Place du Marché shows evidence of this famous Saint Quentin citizen.
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Heritage