Laudun-L'ardoise can be explored through very different traces: Camp de CĂ©sar lies on the eastern edge of the Lacau Plateau and overlooks the RhĂ´ne Valley. Historic buildings tell stories of water supply, religious history and defensive functions; wine experiences range from cellar tours to a puzzle activity. You can choose what to explore based on your interests, rather than trying to fit every theme into a single itinerary.
Camp de CĂ©sar: Settlement and Digital Interpretation
Camp de CĂ©sar is an 18-hectare protohistoric and Roman settlement. A smartphone app offers a virtual tour with QR-code content and a 3D reconstruction of the ancient Gallo-Roman town. Check that the app is compatible with your device before your trip.
The history of the settlement also includes the Chapelle Saint-Jean de Todon, known in the Saint-Jean de Rousigue region. It represents the final settlement phase of the Gallic and later Roman settlement of Camp de CĂ©sar. Its history may date back to the 5th to 7th centuries; the chapel was abandoned as a place of worship from the 14th century onwards.
Buildings and Historical Traces
The Aqueduc de Balouvière was built in 1870 to supply the village of Laudun, its fountains and its livestock watering troughs with spring water. At 76 metres long and built from limestone and brick, it offers a chance to consider both the purpose and materials of a historic water structure.
The Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs was built in 1647 to house a brotherhood of White Penitents. It lies south of Sainte-Foy Hill and overlooks the town of Laudun-l'Ardoise. The Église Notre-Dame-la-Neuve reveals another side of architectural history: it was built in the second half of the 14th century, and much of it was completed in 1352. A few years later, the church became the seat of a priory of the Celestine Order of Avignon, which remained there until the French Revolution. Its south façade was fortified, and its bell tower served as a watchtower.
Cultural Experiences Online Too
The Maison Albert André offers an immersive online tour of the rooms in the house, as well as interactive content about the artist’s history and legacy. It also offers an online Patrimonio Quest with riddles and challenges about Albert André’s life and work. Both digital formats focus on the house and the artist but take different approaches: the tour leads you through the rooms, while the quest involves completing tasks.
Wine, Cellars and Puzzles
At Maison Sinnae in Laudun, cellar tours are available by reservation, and wine tastings in the cellar are led by experts. The Escave Game Sinnaé “La bonne bouteille” offers another way to explore the wine theme: this two-hour indoor team escape game takes place at the Maison Sinnae winery in Laudun. Check the booking details before your trip.
Château Saint Maurice combines an 18th-century château with a tasting cellar in a 13th-century sheep barn. Cellar tours are available by appointment. Tastings and the escape game are offered by Maison Sinnae; Château Saint Maurice offers cellar tours by appointment.
Cycling Route and Wine Country
The signposted “La Vigneronne” cycling route is 23.97 kilometres long, starts and ends in the centre of Laudun, and is listed as taking 2 hours and 30 minutes. It passes through vineyards and hilly landscapes with green slopes, as well as historic remains. Check route conditions before setting off.
The Jeu de piste au Clos de Taman also uses an app, but it is not a cycling route: the trail features geolocated challenges and quizzes. The activity passes through an island of biodiversity amid the vineyards below the historic Camp de César Plateau. While “La Vigneronne” has a stated route length and duration, the Jeu de piste is built around individual tasks and questions.
Discover more destinations: Soustelle, Sernhac, Saint-Roman-De-Codières, Congénies, Calvisson, Valliguières, Baron, Mandagout.
For the broader travel overview: Gard.
