guide
Green water, pebble beaches, limestone cliffs and the Pont du Gard in the background: the Gardon is one of the most beautiful swimming rivers in the south of France. It rises in the Cevennes, flows through Anduze, then cuts through wild gorges before passing beneath the Roman aqueduct and joining the Rhône.
But you need to know where you can swim: part of the river disappears underground in summer, swimming is never supervised and some sites are banned. Here are the spots worth knowing, the rules of the protected site and our tips for enjoying the Gardon safely.
| Information | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Main spots | Collias, the Pont du Gard beaches, Remoulins, Cevennes valleys around Anduze and Mialet |
| Lifeguards | None: swimming is unsupervised along the whole Gardon |
| Swimming ban | La Baume site, at Sanilhac-Sagriès |
| Best time | June and September, when the water level is still good and there are fewer crowds |
| Good to know | River dry between Russan and the Pont Saint-Nicolas for much of the summer |
| Banned | All fires, barbecues included, all year round in the gorges |
At the exit of the gorges, the village of Collias is the main meeting point for swimmers. On the left bank, a wide pebble beach borders a calm, cool stretch of water at the foot of the cliffs. This is also where canoe trips down to the Pont du Gard start: the colourful boats are part of the charm of the place.
Swimming is free of charge but unsupervised. In July and August, come early in the morning: the car park fills up quickly and there is little shade on the pebbles.
Few UNESCO World Heritage monuments allow you to swim at their foot. At the Pont du Gard, pebble beaches stretch on either side of the aqueduct, and you swim facing its three tiers of arches. Access is through the site, whose ticket covers parking, the museums and access to the riverbanks.
The site is very busy in summer. For a quieter swim, go late in the afternoon, when the light turns the stone golden and the groups have left. A little further downstream, the banks at Remoulins offer other places to get into the water.
Between the Russan bridge and Collias, the Gardon winds along the bottom of deep gorges that are listed and protected by a regional nature reserve. This is canoe country: there is no path along the river, except between Collias and Sanilhac, and the banks are mostly privately owned.
Two particularities to know before planning a swim in this section:
The Pont Saint-Nicolas, a medieval bridge spanning the gorges, remains a beautiful viewpoint and a place to reach the water when the level allows.
Upstream, the Gardon changes character. The Gardons de Mialet et de Saint-Jean come down from the Cevennes, forming pools, small rapids and pebble beaches in the shade of the chestnut trees. Around Anduze, Mialet and Saint-Jean-du-Gard, each village has its swimming spots, often at the foot of an old bridge, such as the Pont des Camisards at Mialet.
The atmosphere here is more intimate than in the gorges, but the rule stays the same: unsupervised swimming, lower water in August, and respect for private property. Combine your swim with the Cevennes steam train, which links Anduze and Saint-Jean-du-Gard, and a visit to the Prafrance bamboo grove.
The Gardon gorges are a protected site and a Mediterranean environment that is highly vulnerable to fire, even on the riverbank. A few rules apply:
The Gardon is an unpredictable river. Its flow can rise from a few cubic metres to several thousand cubic metres per second within hours after a heavy storm, even a distant one and even in midsummer. If the water rises or turns murky, get out immediately and move away from the banks.
Our selection includes many riverside campsites in the Gard. 3 km from Saint-Jean-du-Gard, the end of the Cevennes steam train line, Camping Mas de la Cam stretches along the Gardon, with its own pebble beach at the end of the paths. On the Cevennes side, the Les Plans campsite, at Mialet, is an ideal base for enjoying the Gardon about ten minutes from Anduze, with its large water area, water slides and paddling pool for days when the river is too low. On the gorges side, the Gorges du Gardon campsite, at Vers-Pont-du-Gard, sits right on the river, a few minutes from the aqueduct. You can also find all our campsites by the water around Anduze.
The Gardon offers two very different swimming experiences: that of the gorges and the Pont du Gard, spectacular but busy, and that of the Cevennes valleys, gentler and more intimate. Come in June or September to have water and space, always check the water level before setting off, and keep in mind that the river is never supervised. For that price, it is one of the finest playgrounds in the Gard.
Campsites marked “Partner” are Aimer Camper members and are shown first. All results match your search.