Gard

Gard (Occitan: Gard) is a département located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It is named after the river Gardon (or Gard).

Contents

History

The Gard area was settled by the Romans in classical times. It was crossed by the Via Domitia, which was constructed in 118 BC.

Gard is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from the ancient province of Languedoc.

Geography

Gard is part of the region of Languedoc-Roussillon and is surrounded by the departments of Hérault, Lozère, Aveyron, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Ardèche.

The highest point in the department is the Mont Aigoual.

Serious flooding has occurred in the department in recent years.

Politics

The President of the General Council is Damien Alary of the Socialist Party.

Party seats
• Socialist Party 17
Union for a Popular Movement 9
• French Communist Party 8
• Miscellaneous Left 6
Far-left 2
Miscellaneous Right 2
New Centre 1

Tourism

Gard contains a part of the Cévennes National Park.

There are important Roman architectural remains in Nîmes, as well as the famous Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard.

Signpost welcoming travellers into the Gard, at Beaucaire.

See also

External links