Introduction
708km (440 miles) S of Paris; 43km (27 miles) W of Avignon
Nîmes, the ancient Nemausus, is a great place to view some of the world's finest Roman remains. The city grew to prominence during the reign of Caesar Augustus (27 B.C.-A.D. 14). Today it possesses one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world and a near-perfect Roman temple. The city of 135,000 is more like Provence than Languedoc, with a touch of Pamplona (Spain) here in the festivals of the corridas (bullfights) at the arena. The Spanish image is even stronger at night, when the bodegas fill with students drinking sangria and listening to the sounds of flamenco.
more local info
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Amphithéâtre Romain
The elliptically shaped amphitheater is a better-preserved twin of the one at Arles and is far more complete than the Colosseum of Rome. It's two...
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Maison Carrée
The pride of Nîmes, this is one of the most beautiful, and certainly one of the best preserved, Roman temples of Europe. It was built during the...
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Nîmes
- A fine place for a short stay before enjoying some fine hiking in the surrounding hinterland. Examples are The Pont du Gard, The Gardon Gorge and...
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- Culture
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