Nîmes is a city situated in the South of France in the Gard department. Living there for 3 years, I had time to discover a lot of places. Nîmes is a city which has a lot of heritage. It has a rich culture and history and remains a city with a strong identity. Plus with Festival de Nîmes in the Arena happening every year, a lot of people come to the city especially for this event.
Check out the top 6 places to visit in Nîmes!
1. Arène de Nîmes
The Arena remains the most famous place to go in Nîmes. You can’t miss it, the roman amphitheater is in the center of the city. Even if the amphitheater is not the biggest one, it’s one of the most well conserved to this day. The Arena is a perfect illustration of the degree of perfection achieved by Roman engineers. And you can do a visit tour inside for more immersion. Personally I love to just sit in front on a bench with a book, it’s quite relaxing.
2. Maison Carrée
The Maison Carrée is also in the city center and it adds a lot of beauty to the city. It was inspired by the temples of Apollo and Mars Ultor in Rome. It is the only completely preserved temple in the ancient world. Like many other attractions in Europe, you can watch a movie inside that tells you the history of the temple.
3. Jardins de La fontaine
Situated on a hill in the middle of the city, the garden was constructed on a beautiful natural historic site. It has a lot of trees and flowers. Surrounded by water, we can see different fishes who are protected and fed by the city. It’s also absolutely forbidden to go fishing there or you will be sanctioned. It is one of the most peaceful places in the city and it’s a nice spot to take a deep breath of fresh air.
4. Tour Magne
Tour Magne is situated just above the Jardins de la Fontaine. If you climb the one hundred thirty-two stairs, you can see a panoramic view of Nîmes and, having visited it myself, it is worth it. It’s also the most imposing monument of the very long Roman wall of Nimes. It’s so majestic that you can appreciate it from almost every spot in the city.
5. Les Halles de Nîmes
Jumping a bit from ancient monuments to inviting areas to walk around, you should definitely visit the Halles. It is THE place to find local and fresh products such as olive, olive oil, seasoning and my favorite is the tapenade from Nîmes. You can find the best there made from local people. It’s also located in the center of the city, so you will easily pass by. It’s also a very friendly place where you can meet people.
6. Pont du Gard
30 minutes away from Nîmes, you can find Pont du Gard. Built on three floors it’s the highest Roman aqueduct and it reflects a lot of the Roman engineering. It was used to bring water to Nîmes; by that time,it was known as Nemausus. You can swim and canoe in the Gardon. I did it and it was such a good experience.
I am not originally from this city but it’s now my home. I feel like the city has a soul and history that no other city could have. I have my habits, the places I love, and my friends there. You can find a lot of amazing bars, restaurants, bakeries and my
