Boker is a small Provencal town located on the banks of the Rhone River. In this hilly area there is evidence of a Gallo-Roman settlement in 11 BC. The ancient community of the cave route to the medieval city in 1067 and the creation of the castle in 1180. The name Beaucaire translates into a beautiful stone, most likely a link to the limestone found in the area. One Sunday we set off for a short time to explore and a bit of history. The city of Beaucaire is located in the “Golden Triangle” of Avignon, Arles and Nîmes, in many large cities with extensive historical monuments. The city of Boker is bordered on one side by the River Rhone, and the other by the Rhone-Sete Canal. Unfortunately, the city is not as fascinating as the major centers in the region and is clearly not as well supported.
The remains of the castle are impressive, even as the shadow of its former size. Standing on the open area after the entrance, you can imagine a huge presence that once stood on this hilly cape. Entrance to the castle is free, tours are available in a limited way. The view of the Rhone River from the summit is worth a short climb. However, in our opinion, we found that the overall condition of the site was low compared with other historical monuments in the region. The city itself is not very big, and it is worth spending time for a walk through the old streets. In the historical section, you begin to feel that this could be, for example, in those days when the castle occupied 26 hectares, and numerous mansions were in their prime. The height of fame for this center was in the 18th century, when the Madeleine Fair, which is still held every July 21, reached 250,000 people. However, over time, when the importance of equity declined, and trade shifted to other centers, the influence of Boker declined. The city has some historic buildings that are attractive, unfortunately, although not as impressive as those of many other major cities. Even tourist signage panels have seen better days since we found that many were broken or graffiti. The renewed port area on the Ron-Sete canal, apparently, can hold up to 200 ships. This is a little stretch of imagination or, of course, the triumph of logistics. Even many of the nearby cafes seem to be making minimal efforts to supplement the waterway.
My husband had visions of an afternoon nap at that moment, but he had no luck. Just a few kilometers from Bokaer is Abbaye de Saint-Roman This monastery dates back to the 5th century. It was a hermit settlement and was occupied by monks until 1538. The whole structure was literally carved from limestone on a hill. The structure is the only troglodyte monastery in Europe, where residents literally lived like cavemen in a rock. In 1538 a castle was built over the former monastery. Only after the destruction of the castle was the former religious structure informal. The abbey was classified as a French state monument in 1990 and the oldest monastery in the country. The vivid elements of this visit were the beautiful view of the Rhone River over the ancient tombs, an incredible amount of hard labor needed to build the structure and simplicity of life that exists inside the walls.
The challenge facing Bocaire and other small centers is that the entire region has such a rich and complex history that it is difficult to attract the necessary attention and funding. The tourist office of Beaucaire serves as an informative site. However, it is short-sighted that parking in front of their office is allowed only! Potentially irrefutable denial that you visited Boker. Of course, he will never have the same crowd as in large centers such as Avignon. If you go, do not miss the Abbey de Saint-Roman, as it is really worth a thoughtful visit.
