Nîmes

The "French Rome" in the Heart of Occitania

Nîmes, located in southeastern France, is the capital of the Gard department and belongs to the Occitanie region. Strategically nestled between the Mediterranean Sea, the Camargue, Provence, and the Cevennes, it lies within a typical garrigue landscape, along the Avignon-Arles-Marseille-Montpellier axis, just a few kilometers from the famous Pont du Gard. With a population of 155,000, Nîmes is the 18th largest city in France and embodies a perfect balance of ancient history, contemporary architecture, and vibrant cultural life.

Thanks to the Mistral wind, which sweeps through the Rhône Valley keeping the skies clear most of the year, the city enjoys a particularly favorable climate. Surrounded by gentle hills and fragrant Mediterranean scrub, Nîmes offers a serene lifestyle and an ideal setting for discovering its rich historical and artistic heritage.

The History of Nîmes

The origins of Nîmes date back to the 1st century BC, when a freshwater spring attracted the Gallic tribe of the Volcae Arecomici. The city’s Latin name, Nemausus (possibly derived from a local protective deity of the spring) became its modern name. Romanization began in the 2nd century BC with the construction of the Via Domitia, linking Italy and Spain, which transformed Nîmes into a key hub of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis.

Under Emperor Augustus, the city experienced a period of remarkable urban and cultural growth. A Latin colony was established, and a massive 7-kilometer-long city wall was constructed, remnants of which include the Porta Augusta, the Porte de France, and the towering Tour Magne. At the heart of civic life stood the Forum, home to the exquisite Maison Carrée, one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world, dedicated to Augustus’ grandsons. The city’s identity became symbolized by the "As de Nîmes," a coin featuring a chained crocodile and a palm tree, commemorating Augustus’ victory at Actium.

The Roman aqueduct, which includes the renowned Pont du Gard, carried water from Uzès to Nîmes, supplying fountains, baths, and private Roman homes (domus). The Arena, built at the end of the 1st century AD, is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres and still hosts shows, concerts, and the Feria bullfights.

In the Middle Ages, Nîmes underwent alternating periods of occupation by the Visigoths, Saracens, and Franks. The city retreated within its most fortified structures: the Arena, repurposed as a fortress, the cathedral, and the Maison Carrée, which served as a residence. When King Francis I visited in 1533, he rekindled pride in the city’s Roman roots, and the crocodile emblem was officially adopted as its coat of arms. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Nîmes flourished thanks to the textile industry and was enriched with opulent bourgeois residences, some of which are open to the public.

The 19th century marked another urban transformation: broad boulevards replaced ancient walls, and the railway station connected Nîmes to the rest of the country. Following the world wars, the city undertook significant restoration and enhancement of its heritage. The most iconic project was the Carré d’Art by Norman Foster, a cultural center inspired by the Maison Carrée that also houses the Museum of Contemporary Art. Opposite the Arena stands the Musée de la Romanité by Elizabeth de Portzamparc, a striking example of contemporary architecture in dialogue with antiquity.

Nîmes today: where past meets present

Nîmes captivates with its unique fusion of history and modernity. Its historic center is a journey through centuries of art and architecture: Roman temples, medieval churches, Renaissance palaces, and contemporary art installations. In 2023, UNESCO recognized the Maison Carrée as a World Heritage Site, honoring it as an outstanding example of Roman religious architecture.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pont du Gard, is a masterpiece of Roman engineering with three tiers of arches crossing the Gardon River canyon. Water from the aqueduct once flowed to Nîmes and was distributed via the Castellum Divisorium, a unique hydraulic structure in Europe, comparable only to Pompeii’s.

The Tour Magne, the last standing remnant of the Roman city walls, rises above the Jardins de la Fontaine, offering panoramic views. Here also lies the Temple of Diana and the first public gardens in Europe, created in the 18th century as a tribute to classical antiquity. Recognized as a "Ville d’Art et d’Histoire" since 1986, Nîmes is renowned for preserving and promoting its heritage. Its streets reveal elegant facades, hidden courtyards, baroque fountains, lively squares, and hundreds of architectural details inspired by the "As de Nîmes", reimagined even by Philippe Starck.

The artistic and cultural soul of Nîmes

Nîmes boasts a dynamic cultural scene. The Musée de la Romanité houses over 5,000 archaeological artifacts; the Musée des Beaux-Arts features masterpieces by Rubens, De Heem, Delaroche, and Boucher; the Musée du Vieux Nîmes explores daily life from the Middle Ages and the city’s textile history, including the origins of denim (serge de Nîmes); the Musée des Cultures Taurines highlights the region's bullfighting traditions; and the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle covers geology, ethnography, and zoology. The Carré d’Art - Jean Bousquet, home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, showcases works by Merz, Penone, Richter, Polke, and more.

The Théâtre de Nîmes - Bernadette Lafont, located in Place de la Calade, stages innovative performances, from theatre to dance, music, and spoken word. Unmissable events include the spring and September Ferias, filling the Arena and streets with bullfights, concerts, and Camargue traditions. The Festival de Nîmes brings international stars to the stage in June and July, while the Flamenco Festival celebrates Andalusian heritage. Summer evenings come alive with Les Jeudis de Nîmes, featuring crafts, music, and tastings. Digital culture and gaming fans won’t want to miss the Nîmes Open Games Arts, an annual festival held at the Bibliothèque Carré d’Art.

Nîmes and nature

Nîmes' natural side is expressed through its green spaces, forests, and garrigue landscapes, with hiking trails and nature walks. The Jardins de la Fontaine, Europe’s first public gardens, blend French classicism with English romanticism. Within them are the Tour Magne and Temple of Diana, enhancing their historical charm.

Beyond the Jardins, hiking trails stretch through the Gardon Canyon, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and extend into the Petite Camargue, with marshes, salt flats, and wild nature where flamingos, bulls, and Camargue horses thrive. Outdoor activities abound: cycling along the ancient aqueduct, climbing in the Gorges du Gardon, golfing, trekking, and river cruises to the Petite Camargue. Nîmes is also on major pilgrimage routes, including the Camino de Santiago and the Regordane Way linking Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard.

Flavours of Nîmes

Local cuisine reflects the region’s Mediterranean identity, with aromas of garrigue, olives, vineyards, and chestnut trees. Signature dishes include Brandade de Nîmes, a creamy blend of salt cod cooked in milk and emulsified with olive oil; the savory Petit Pâté Nîmois made with veal and pork in puff pastry; and sweet treats like the golden, crunchy Croquant Villaret and almond and honey Caladon. These delicacies pair perfectly with wines from Costières de Nîmes (produced between the Rhône and Camargue) or the famous Perrier water, bottled in nearby Vergèze.

At the heart of the city, Les Halles Market offers an authentic taste of the region (Camargue and the Cévennes) with stalls brimming with local products: AOP Nîmes olives (Picholine), Pélardon AOC cheese from the Cevennes, sweet onions, Fraise de Nîmes IGP strawberries, and the intensely fruity AOP olive oil of Nîmes.