Nimes, France

Nimes is a city and commune (roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities/cities in the United States or Canada) of southern France with a population of roughly 144,600 people.

Nimes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination. The city derives its name from Nemausus, meaning ‘From the Source’. Nîmes was located on the Via Domitia, a Roman road constructed in 118 BC, connecting Italy to Spain. Tree-shaded boulevards trace the foundations of its former city walls.

Nimes may have been one of the richest and finest Roman cities of Gaul. Several important remains of the Roman Empire can still be seen in and around Nîmes. You’ll need to hire a car in order to make the most of these attractions.

Some of these Remains include the elliptical Roman amphitheater (of the 1st or 2nd century AD), it being the best-preserved Roman arena in France. It was filled with medieval housing, when its walls served as ramparts, but they were cleared under Napoleon’s rule. It is still used today as a bull fighting and concert arena.

The nearby Pont du Gard, also built by Agrippa, is a well-preserved aqueduct that used to carry water across the small Gardon river valley. Also, the Maison Carrée (Square House) -a small Roman temple- was built ca. 19 BC. It is one of the best-preserved Roman temples anywhere in the world.

The nearby Mont Cavalier (”Great Tower”), is ruins of a Roman tower. Some of Nimes’ more recent historical sites include the 18th-century Jardins de la Fontaine (Gardens of the Fountain); and a cathedral (dedicated to Saint Castor of Apt, a native of the city), occupying, it is believed, the site of the temple of Augustus.

There is modern architecture in Nîmes too: the city is home to a museum of modern art and mediatheque; be sure to rent a car to see the Nemausus: a post-modern residential ensemble, and a building in the form of a hemicycle to reflect the Amphitheater. Even more recent, Nîmes is historically known for its pants! Denim, the fabric of blue jeans, derives its name from this city.