Tourist information on Nimes, France

Nîmes is a city in the south-east of France, the capital of the department of Gard in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Cévennes Mountains, Nîmes is known as the French Rome on account of the abundance of well-preserved Roman buildings that exist within its city boundary, and also because, like Rome, it lies on seven hills. With several other important Roman sites in the area (Arles, Orange, Pont du Gard and St-Rémy), it makes an ideal base from which to explore Roman Provence. Nîmes is both a modern industrial city (famous for its textiles) and a popular tourist destination, offering not only a wealth of historic monuments, but also some great scenic locations in which to unwind and ample opportunity for shopping and fine dining.

The area around Nîmes is known to have been inhabited since 4000 BC and was the site of a large Bronze Age settlement from around 600 BC. By 28 BC, the Romans had established a fortified town, the precursor to present day Nîmes. What became a thriving city in the 3rd century AD was repeatedly invaded by Germanic tribes in the 5th century, before being largely destroyed by the Franks in 738. For the following 500 years, although a shadow of its former self, Nîmes prospered as a centre of trade and commerce, despite feudal conflict between the various factions that attempted to control the city. In 1226, the city willingly gave itself up to Louis VIII and it became part of the kingdom of France in 1229. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the region was blighted by invasion, famine and plague, and the fact that Nîmes was a Protestant stronghold added to its woes in the religious wars of the 1500s. The local economy recovered in the 17th century and Nîmes became a centre of commerce and industry. This period of good fortune was reversed in the following century amid the turmoil of a European recession and the French Revolution. In the 19th century, Nîmes prospered once more through its burgeoning textiles industry and became one of the world's largest manufacturers of blue denim, which was originally called serge de Nîmes.

Whilst Nîmes is most famous for its extensive Roman remains, the city has much more to offer and is one of the most architecturally diverse towns in the southern region of France. The charming Medieval streets of the Old City, lined with grand buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries, make a striking contrast with the wide boulevards of the more upmarket Quais de la Fontaine district. The city's plethora of historic churches and its grand municipal buildings reflect a wide range of architectural styles, whilst the parks and gardens provide open spaces in which to relax and contemplate one of France's most beautiful cities.

The number one attraction is Les Arènes, a 1st century Roman amphitheatre with a capacity of 25,000, the best preserved in France and second only to the Colisseum of Rome. In Medieval times, Les Arènes housed some of Nîmes's residents; today, it is the venue for concerts and the city's annual bullfighting event (held in September). Another important Roman structure is the Maison Carrée (Square House), a small temple of classical Greek design that was built in around 4 AD, one of the best preserved of its kind in the world. Nearby are the Pont du Gard, an aqueduct that once carried water across the Gardon river valley, and Tour Magne, the remains of an octagonal Roman tower which dominates the Jardins de la Fontaine atop Mont Cavalier. Just as impressive is the Temple de Diane, a Roman temple of about 2 AD which served as a monastery in the Middle Ages. The Porte d'Auguste (Gate of Augustus) was one of the most important Roman gateways in the city, opening onto the Via Domitia, the first Roman road built in Gaul. Other Roman monuments include: La Porte de France, an arcade built in 16 AD, and Le Castellum divisorium, a 1st century water distribution basin fed by the Pont du Gard.

Of the city's more recent historic buildings, the most noticeable is the Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Castor, a 12th century cathedral of mixed Romanesque and Gothic style that is believed to have been constructed on the site of the Temple of Augustus. Partially destroyed during the religious wars of the 16th century, the cathedral has been substantially rebuilt and is dominated by its 40 m high tower. Its most impressive features are its Rosary Chapel, an exquisite example of 17th century Baroque architecture, and the ornately sculptured pediment frieze on its exterior façade. Other notable churches in Nîmes include: l'Église Saint-Paul, a neo-Romanesque church of the mid-19th century, with a 62 m high steeple; l'Église Sainte-Perpétue-et-Félicité, a fine example of Second Empire neo-gothic architecture; and l'Église Saint-Baudile, a 19th century imitation of French Gothic with two steeples topped by tall spires. The best examples of the city's non-eccliastical architecture are provided by the 17th century Hôtel de ville (City Hall), the neo-classical mid-19th century Palais de justice, and Tour de l'horloge, a 30m high bell tower.

Of the city's green open spaces, the most beautiful is Les Jardins de la Fontaine. Created in the 18th century, this was one of Europe's first public gardens. Its design reflects not only the French gardening tradition, but also that of England and Italy, and contains a diverse collection of plants. Another attractive space is the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle, a square that dates from the 16th century and which has at its centre an ornate marble fountain sculpted by James Pradier.

Nîmes has several interesting museums. These include: the Muséum d'histoire naturelle, dedicated to the natural sciences; the Musée archéologique de Nîmes, one of France's leading museums of archaeology with a remarkable collection of artefacts from the Iron Age through to Gallo-Roman times; the Musée du Vieux Nîmes, which traces the history of the city from the Middle Ages; the Musée des Beaux Arts, which exhibits numerous paintings from the 16th to the 19th centuries, including work by French and Italian masters; and Carré d'Art, the city's museum of modern art housed in a striking modern building designed by Norman Foster.

The city's nearest airport is Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes Airport, which is located about 15 km south of the city centre. This serves several European destinations, including London (Luton), the East Midlands, Liverpool, Madrid and Brussels (Bruxelles-Charleroi). The Gare de Nîmes is the city's main railway station and provides a high speed (TGV) connection to Paris as well as a regular service to other major French cities, such as Marseille, Toulouse, Montpellier and Perpignan.