Saint-Alexandre combines a historic village centre with a walk that brings together rural heritage and vineyards. There are also several buildings with their own stories and wine experiences at Terra 6840. When choosing what to do, both village history and a specific walking option are therefore at the heart of the experience.
Village history and Romanesque architecture
Saint-Alexandre has a circular layout and a historic centre with narrow lanes. The village sits on a rounded hill with gentle slopes. These features give exploring the village its own distinctive spatial setting, without reducing its history to a single building.
The Romanesque church of Saint-Alexandre was built in the 12th century. Its architectural features include three naves, an apsidal half-dome and a dome. The naves divide the church into longitudinal sections; the apsidal half-dome and dome are other defining forms. A terracotta statue of Saint Alexander, the village’s patron saint, stands on the façade. The present-day bell tower dates from 1978 and was rebuilt after the former tower was struck by lightning in 1964.
The chapels, too, represent different chapters in the village’s history: the Chapelle Saint-Joseph was built in 1840. The Chapelle de la Vierge was the former castle chapel and now serves as the town hall of Saint-Alexandre. The chapel’s history includes a gilded Renaissance-style statue of the Virgin, carved from fig wood. It was saved during the unrest and hidden in the false roof. The Château of Saint-Alexandre served as a defensive stronghold and a centre of local power; the seigneurial family lived there until the Revolution.
On foot between the village and vineyards
The “Sentier entre village et vignobles” combines the discovery of rural heritage with a walk through the vineyards. This moderately difficult circular route is 8.1 kilometres long and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. It starts and ends in Saint-Alexandre, on Rue des Lierres. The distance, approximate duration and circular route give you a clear framework for planning your time. Check trail conditions before setting out.
Another tour option is the “Boucle cyclo-découverte la Spiripontaine” cycling loop. It heads towards the village of St-Alexandre, where a stop is recommended. While the walking route starts and ends in Saint-Alexandre, the cycling loop’s specific connection to the village is that it heads in that direction, with a recommended stop there. It is also worth checking road conditions before setting out on this route.
Landscape and designated protected areas
Saint-Alexandre is one of the municipalities within the Natura 2000 bird protection area “Marais de l'Ile Vieille et alentour”. The municipality is also part of the continental ZNIEFF Type 2 “Le Rhône et ses canaux”. This ZNIEFF is classified under the 1930 law and designated as a bird protection area under the Birds Directive. These designations form part of the landscape context of the municipal area and complement the village’s historical and wine-growing themes.
Wine experiences at Terra 6840
Terra 6840 is a winery in Saint-Alexandre that sells AOC Côtes du Rhône wines directly from the estate. Guided vineyard tours offer insights into the winemaking process; reservations are required. Terra 6840 offers private wine tastings by appointment in its vineyard in the Gard département. Visitor arrangements and wine availability may change, so check with the winery in advance about the experiences you would like.
When planning, the main difference between the walk and the wine experiences is their time commitment: an approximate duration is given for the circular route, while tours and private tastings require a reservation or appointment. When choosing your stay, you can therefore decide whether village history, walking or wine will be your main focus.
Discover more destinations: Tresques, Goudargues, Castillon-Du-Gard, Molières-Cavaillac, Saint-Julien-de-Cassagnas, Remoulins, Blauzac, Campestre-Et-Luc.
See the broader travel overview: Gard.
