Good plan ! Idea for an outdoor outing in Terre d'Argence : electric bike ride from Beaucaire to Bellegarde, wine tasting, lunch at the port. Testimonies and tested experience.
A day in the open air in Terre d'Argence
Today Saturday, the weather is nice and we decided to go for a short bike ride.
In the historic center of Beaucaire, a bike rental company AB Bike & Trott offers electric bikes.
'Turnkey” rental service with bike drop-off and pick-up at your resort.
You can book by phone by simply calling Alain 06 09 99 62 52
Discover the ViaRhôna
We are going for a mini bike-trip to Terre d'Argence.
After a short detour in Beaucaire to admire the mansions in the historic center, we leave the cobblestones, drive on the quays of the marina to the ViaRhôna (departure of the bike path less than 1 kilometer away). Direction: Bellegarde !
The bike path is very pleasant. It runs along the Rhône Canal in Sète and we come across boats that sail peacefully on the canal.
11 kilometers later, the port is in sight !
Break on the Port of Bellegarde
Arriving at the port, we decided to stop at the Halte Nautique, a pretty semi-gastronomic restaurant at the edge of the water.
The menu offers a selection of very fresh Mediterranean dishes, made with good local products. A real treat !
After this stopover, we get back on our bikes and leave the port to discover the center of the village of Bellegarde.
We then climb to the top of the hill to discover the Madonna Tower, the remains of this feudal castle offers a very beautiful panorama of the plain, the vineyards and orchards.
After the photo break we decided to go and visit the wineries in the surrounding countryside.
Terre d'Argence wine tasting
First stop at Domaine Pastouret. Arriving at the estate surprises us, it feels like we are in the South of Spain, in Andalusia.
This wine estate is run by a family of winemakers who love nature and their land. Michel and Jeanne Pastouret were among the first, over 30 years ago, to convert their farm to organic farming. Today, joined by their children Mathieu and Virginie, they are pursuing this philosophy of life and offering organic wine, each cuvée of which has been imagined by one of the members of the family.
We then reach the Château Saint Louis la Perdrix, a magnificent estate that produces AOC Costières de Nîmes wine, olive oil and has recently welcomed weddings in a magical setting. You can also rent part of the farmhouse to stay there, it has been completely redone with quality materials, maintaining the soul of the place and the 'Mas Provençal' spirit. After the tasting, we take a nap on the lawns of the estate's large wooded park.
We leave Saint Louis to go a few hundred meters further, to Mas Carlot. A wonderful cypress alley welcomes us. We arrive in the courtyard of a very beautiful Provençal farmhouse. Here, organic wine is produced, especially Clairette de Bellegarde, a very small appellation that is only produced in this village, by only a handful of winemakers. We enjoy this dry and silky white wine, at the edge of the fountain while enjoying the tranquility of the place.
Return to Beaucaire
After this interlude, we get on our horses for the last time to return to Beaucaire using the same path as at the alley: the road that leads to the port then the ViaRhôna between Bellegarde and Beaucaire. The way back is a little slower than the way out, it must be said that our bags are weighted with a few pretty bottles that we will bring home as a souvenir.
At the end of the ride, we return the bikes, promising ourselves to start again, this time to go explore the greenway from Beaucaire to the Pont du Gard and then Uzès, it seems that it is the longest greenway in the Gard, we must go and discover that !
