Calvisson is one of the villages of the Vaunage valley in Languedoc Roussillon. A hill (Roc de Gachone) with the remains of three windmills overlooks the village and offers a beautiful view over the valley and all the way to the sea.
This large village of 5000 inhabitants is situated in the Gard at 17 Km West of Nimes, 38 Km East of Montpellier and just a few kilometres from the little town of Sommieres. You will find all the main facilities in the village such as small local supermarket (and easy access to bigger ones), weekly outdoor market, boulangeries, cafes, doctors, nurses, chemist, hairdresser, bank, post office and garage. The village also has a nursery school (3-5), a primary school (6-10) and a secondary school (11-14). The charm of this old village comes from its typical narrow streets, elegant private homes and its pretty plaza with a fountain.
This area of the Languedoc Roussillon was the setting of constant strife between Catholics and Protestants during the 17th and 18th centuries. As a testimony to this rich history you will find in Calvisson the Protestant Church with its classical architecture and the impressive Roman Catholic Church.
One of the highlights of this active village is its Sunday outdoor market that takes place all year long on a lovely plaza with a typical French fountain in the middle. You can go there to buy fruit, vegetables and meat for your Sunday lunch and then sit at the terrace of one of the cafés for a little refreshment. The market also proposes some retail items such as nice straw baskets and hats.
The old local railway has been transformed into a bike path (voie verte) for cycling, skating, running etc that goes from Sommières to Caveirac (approx. 20 Km of track). You can buy or rent bikes from the shop “Vaunage Passion Velos” which is right on the voie verte (1 av des marchands). The outskirts of the village around the bike path have recently been developed and new shops and services are now available in this area.
The privileged situation of the pretty village of Calvisson and the quality of its facilities mean that it is a popular and dynamic village of the Gard where locals and newcomers to the Region alike are happy to settle.
