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UZES is a lively provincial place, north of Nimes, in
the hilly area of UZEGE. You could film the twentieth version of the Three
Musketeers without any repetition, there are so many old building, passages,
plane-trees and the Jeu de Boules is played all around, all the time.
The origin of Uzes is a Roman military garrison, UCETIA. And in the early middle
ages it was the siege of a bishopry. The local noble families Bermond and later
Crussol, had nothing to say or command: the bishop centralized all power.
During the religion wars, the bishop turned towards the Protestants (1546), like
many inhabitants of Uzes. The catholic king of France lost all grip on the city.
He named Antoine de Crussol to be a count, to use him as a dummy. But the battle
between Catholics and Protestants continued for a long time to wave up and down.
After the execution of the revolutionary Duke of Montmorency (1632) Uzes became
“PREMIER DUCHE DE FRANCE”.
Uzes’s trade mark is the 12th century TOUR FENESTRELLE. This roman
cylinder
shaped bell tower was build after an Italian example, and is the only one of his
kind in France. None of the six stories are the same. The lower floor is made of
closed arches, the stories up have more and more arches which are wider.
Despite the tour Fenestrelle still stands straight in opposition to its far away
cousin in Pisa, the municipality is afraid to open it to the public.
The Roman Cathedral SAINT THEODERIT, of which the tower was a part of, was
destroyed during the religion wars. The present baroque church was built in its
place in 1645-63). The interior is not very pretty, but you have some remarkable
wrought iron balconies and a nice 18th century organ. In 1873 a
neo-roman façade was added. Oblique behind the cathedral lays the BISHOP’S
PALACE, housing the MUSEE MUNICIPAL GEORGE BORIAS; dedicated to the history and
folklore of Uzes.
Behind the palace is the promenade des Maronniers. From under the chestnuttrees
you have a view over the hills.
The DUCHE was the residence of the dukes of Uzes and is now already five
centuries owned by the family Crussol. The highest tower, the TOUR BERMONDE (12th
century) rises above the city and you have a magnificent view. It is the oldest
part of the building. The inner courtyard is also characterized by a renaissance
wall from the 16th century. Next to is the gothic chapel of the
chateau. The interior of the DUCHE has furniture from the renaissance, baroque,
rococo and classicism. And not to forget a collection of old suits.
At the other side of the DUCHE lay the HOTEL DE VILLE (18th century).
On the place du Duché no.5 is the entrance to an early Christian church crypt,
carved in the rock. You can have a guided visit in the summer.
Nearby the Duche are also the TOUR DE L4HORLOGE, the place Dampmartin and the
place aux Herbes. Along the two square there are galleries giving a bit of
freshness in the summer. On the place des Herbes there is market on Saturdays:
food and souvenirs for sale.
The church SAINT-ETIENNE was built in the 18th century. Next to the
church a 13th century tower.
The MUSEE BORIAS has an archeological and historical collection, together with a
small collection manuscripts and documents who remind the writer ANDRE GIDE. |
