location
La Guiranne is in Beauvoisin, an agricultural village in the Petite Camargue about 15km south of Nimes. Transport links are good: the motorways are around 20 minutes drive away, as is Nimes airport. Avignon and Montpellier airports are each around 45 minutes away by car, and there's a very good TGV service from Paris and Lille to Nimes.
Beauvoisin is about half an hour from the Mediterranean beaches of Grau du Roi and Grande Motte, and other famous places to visit, such as Pont du Gard, Avignon, Arles (Van Gogh heritage), and the walled medieval town of Aigues Mortes. The mountains of the Cevennes are about an hour away. There’s a tiny railway station at Beauvoisin with buses and trains to Nimes and Grau du Roi via Aigues Mortesin the summer.
Beauvoisin itself is a small, friendly village. It has 2 bakeries, a good butcher and greengrocer, newsagent, chemist and small supermarket – and three wineries! There’s a bar, a pizzeria, and very good restaurant ( Les Aubades) open from Wednesday - Sunday evenings and lunchtimes. More restaurants are a short drive away.
The area is rich in history and culture. The Petite Camargue conservation area is nearby: bulls, white horse, pink flamingos and the Gardians – the skilled horsemen of the Camargue. La Guiranne is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards which make for good walking and excellent cycling. There’s also a horse riding school nearby, with organised treks through the woods.
This is a region that loves to party; in July and August there are many fetes around the local villages and in Nimes itself. They have a strong Spanish flavour, and the Gardians usually display their horsemanship at these events by steering young bulls through the streets. Nimes is a stylish city with an exceptionally well preserved Roman amphitheatre, often the venue for a variety of open air concerts, and a modern art gallery.