The ancient city of Nimes is located in the Region of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France approximately 100 kilometres north-west of Marseille. It is a small city which can easily be seen by visitors on foot, and provides a rich heritage and number of interesting attractions which include the spectacular Roman amphitheatre, beautiful gardens, and numerous museums and art galleries. Nimes is comprised of many squares, and tree-lined boulevards which trace the foundations of its former city walls, and provides an impressive and vibrant old town which is centred around the Place aux Herbes and the Place d'Horloge. Here the shady old narrow lanes and squares maintain a very attractive and appealing environment, and are lined with cafes, restaurants and boutiques which wait to be explored. Nimes also provides an indoor market at Les Halles where visitors can absorb the local atmosphere and enjoy the regional specialities such as tapenade (a savoury paste) and brandade (a salted cod), and purchase the local produce which includes wines, breads, olives, cheeses and paella. At night, Nimes comes alive with the beat of music and the sounds of flamenco dancing which emanate from the many small bodegas that are scattered around town. These welcoming haunts are busy with tourists and locals alike, all enjoying a glass of the local sangria.
For visitors to Nimes, it is good to know that the city is famous for its Roman architectural masterpieces. These include buildings within Nimes, and within close proximity to the city. Some of the buildings are known for their good preservation, as they have weathered the test of time and remain as they were built over 2,000 years ago. The best known monuments within the city include the Maison Carree, or the Square House, which is a small temple built during the 1st century A.D. that today is considered to be the most complete Roman temple in the world. The Maison Carree houses a museum and an imposing statue of Apollo. Located in the centre of the city is the ‘Arena of Nimes’. This remarkable amphitheatre is considered to be the world’s best preserved amphitheatre and is able to seat over 15,000 spectators and is still used for bull-fights, concerts and sporting events. Standing on the low rocky Mont Cavalier, which is located just out of the city, is the oldest Roman ruin in France. Here visitors can see the 34 metre, octagonal Tour Magne, or Great Tower, which was once part of the city walls. Nearby are located the most enjoyable of the ruins in Nimes which are those of the Temple of Diane and the Roman baths that are surrounded by the beautiful Jardin de la Fontaine. The Roman city owed much of its wealth and importance to the Via Domitia, the main road which joined Italy to Spain. It was at the Roman, Porte d’Auguste, one of only two city gates still standing, that the road entered the city. Through the gate can be seen a bronze statue of Emperor Augustus. One iconic structure of the area is located just over 20 kilometres from the city centre, and is the easily recognised and magnificent Pont du Gard, which is a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site, and considered to be one of France’s top five tourist attractions. This spectacular structure, which was built in 19 B.C., is over 50 kilometres long and was constructed without mortar to supply ancient Nimes with water from the northern River Eure which is located near Uzes. Formed of three tiers of arches, the most impressive view of the aqueduct is located where it crosses the River Gard. To learn more of this amazing structure visit the museum and cinema which are located in the tourist centre at the site of the aqueduct.
For museum buffs, Nimes provides a large choice with the two most prominent being the Musee des Beaux Arts, which is located in the Rue Cite Foulc, and the Carre d’Art, the Square of Art, which houses the Contemporary Art Museum and also an important library. The Carre d’Art is located in the glass building, known locally as the ‘Glass Cube’, which was designed by Norman Foster and stands adjacent to the Maison Carree in the Place de la Maison Carree. The building also contains a cafe on its highest level which provides exceptional views and a different perspective of the Maison Carree. Other museums include the Museum of Old Nimes and the nearby Museum of Bull Fighting Culture which are located in the Place aux Herbes, the Archaeological Museum and the Natural History Museum, both of which can be found in the Boulevard Amiral Courbet. Nimes also provides a Planetarium that is located in the Avenue Peladan.
Just for interest. Nimes is also famous for its denim which was first manufactured here for export to southern USA to clothe the slaves. It was called denim as it was ‘of Nimes’ or ‘de Nimes’. The fabric was exported through Genoa, which is also known as Genes, hence the word jeans, or denim jeans!!
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