The Gardon or Gard ( Occitan and

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

: ''Gardon, Gard'', , ) is a

river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...

in southern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. It is the namesake of the department of

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Saint-Martin-de-Lansuscle, in the Cévennes mountain range. In its upper course it is also referred to as ''Gardon de Saint-Martin''. From its furthest source, that of its

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...

Gardon de Saint-Jean The Gardon or Gard (Occitan and French: ''Gardon, Gard'', , ) is a river in southern France. It is the namesake of the department of Gard. Several of its tributaries are also called ''Gardon''. It is long, and takes its source in the commu ...

", it is 133 km long. It flows into the

Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...

(right-side tributary) at Comps, north of Beaucaire, across from Vallabrègues.

Features

The

Roman aqueduct The Romans constructed aqueducts throughout their Republic and later Empire, to bring water from outside sources into cities and towns. Aqueduct water supplied public baths, latrines, fountains, and private households; it also supported min ...

Pont du Gard The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to carry water over to the Roman colony of ''Nemausus'' ( Nîmes). It crosses the river Gardon near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard in southern France. The Po ...

and the 16th-century Pont Saint-Nicolas are two historic bridges that cross the Gardon. The

Gorges du Gardon The Gorges du Gardon form a canyon carved out by the river Gardon, a tributary of the Rhône with its source in the Cévennes. They are located in the heart of the Gard department in the Occitanie region. The local nature reserve of the Gorges d ...

, which ends at Pont Saint-Nicolas, is a popular recreation area for

kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits faci ...

canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other act ...

rock climbing Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically a ...

, and

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

. The village of Collias, approximately downriver from the Pont Saint-Nicolas, has several kayak and canoe rental agencies which will bus customers upriver to the Pont Saint-Nicolas (until the river level drops low in late June). Departing from Collias by kayak or canoe will bring you to the Pont du Gard in about an hour and one-half. It is possible to kayak or canoe under the Pont du Gard. Though, at times, the river is not high enough to allow for passage.

Floods

In September 2002 and again in December 2003, the Gardon had record level

flood A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...

s that damaged many of its bridges including the Pont Saint-Nicolas, which has since been fully restored. The river today shows few signs of the floods.

Places along the river

* Lozère *

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Anduze,

Saint-Jean-du-Gard Saint-Jean-du-Gard ( oc, Sant Joan de Gardonenca) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. History This city of the Cévennes, first mentioned in a 12th-century papal bull (''San Johannis de Gardonnenca cum villa''), was very much ...

, Saint-André-de-Valborgne,

Remoulins Remoulins (; oc, Remolins) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. The town lies on the River Gardon or Gard, and is a short distance downstream of the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard, in nearby Vers-Pont-du-Gard. The current brid ...

Montfrin Montfrin () is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. Population The residents are called ''Montfrinois'' in French. Geography Montfrin is located between Nîmes and Avignon, from Pont du Gard. The Gardon flows through the comm ...

La Grand-Combe La Grand-Combe (; oc, La Grand Comba) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. Geography The town lies on the opposite bank of the river Gardon d'Alès from Les Salles-du-Gardon. It is 13 km upstream and north of Alès in t ...

and Alès are situated on the

Gardon d'Alès The Gardon d'Alès is a tributary of the Gardon in the Lozère and Gard departments, France. It is long. Its source is in the Cévennes near Saint-Privat-de-Vallongue. It flows through the town Alès Alès (; oc, Alès) is a commune in t ...

, the major left tributary.

References

External links

Regordane Info - The independent portal for the Regordane Way or St Gilles Trail. The Regordane Way runs alongside the river Gardon from Ners south-eastwards
{{Authority control Rivers of France Rivers of Gard Rivers of Lozère Rivers of Occitania (administrative region)