The 13 things to do in Nimes

Visit Nimes: what are the best things to do and see in this UNESCO World Heritage candidate city in 2018?

Nîmes derives its origins from antiquity, and as such the city of south of France is candidate for UNESCO World Heritage List . Historically rich, the one located on the Via Domitia is an identity city that enjoys the status of City of Art and History. In addition to being a key city-stage in the south of France, Nîmes is memorable for its monuments rich in teaching. If you have the opportunity to go to Nimes, there are some things you must do absolutely. Hence the importance of the 12 essential things to do in Nimes.

Did you know? The word "denim" (from Nîmes) comes from this textile pole and is made in Nîmes since the medieval era.

Before visiting Nimes, it is important to know the 13 things to do in Nimes:

1.The arenas of Nimes

The arenas symbolize a Roman amphitheatre that was built towards the end of the century in the city of Gard. During the Great Invasions, the amphitheatre served as a refuge. It became the emblem of the neighbourhood and the city with its streets and shops dating from the Middle Ages until the nineteenth century. Visiting Nimes cannot be done without going to discover the Roman amphitheatre. Every year, Nimes areres host concerts, shows and even Roman games. From the outside, near the entrance, we see the carved heads of the bulls just above the upper floor of the arches.

2. La Maison Carrée

Compared to the arenas, the Maison Carrée was a Roman temple with a hexagonal shape at the beginning of the 1st century AD in Nîmes. It was founded by Augustus at the beginning of the first century. Following her recent renovations, she now offers a cinema room projecting a film called "Nemausus, the birth of Nimes" which is projected daily, continuously.

From a consular house to the museum by church, the interior of this house is also worth visiting Nîmes to discover the history of the city and to know its antique. The Square House is ranked among historical monuments.

3. The Museum of Romanity

The Musée de la Romanité, inaugurated in 2018, is a contemporary architectural building with invaluable Roman rooms. Innovating by its wavy façade, the museum creates a contrast with the Arenas. It invites visitors to make a journey over the centuries thanks to the numerous collections of Roman objects and mosaics from excavations. You observe Nimoise history through new technologies such as augmented reality or monumental audiovisual technologies, which transports you all the more in another era.

The museum is also a place of life because it has a restaurant, a garden, as well as a gardened terrace on the roof where it is pleasant to walk. In short, the Musée de la Romanité highlights the Roman jewels that the city has.

4. La Feria de Nîmes

The Feria de Nîmes has the particularity of focusing on the tauromachie that has taken place every year since 1952 at Pentecost and for the Vendanges. During these festivities, we can attend the parades of fanfares as well as tanks and horsemen. And of course, these are the stands offering drinks that made the reputation of the Feria. Frequenting the Feria of the city then justifies the trip to visit Nimes and live great emotions.

5. The wood of the Espeisses

The wooden walk of the Espeisses is ideal for hikers and cyclists. In fact, the picnic tables and the many playgrounds amaze the families that come there. You will have the opportunity to explore its heritage, wildlife and aquatic exploitation. Visiting Nimes is also a fun and relaxing moment.

6. The Festival of Nîmes

During the holidays, the Festival de Nîmes attracts the greatest music lovers. The Festival is organized in the Nimes arenas. This is why you must attend the dance at the Festival de Nîmes if the opportunity is given to visit Nimes.

7. The Tower of the Horloge

The clock tower is one of the monuments to visit in Nimes. It is located in the historic centre of the city. It is a tower of 31 meters high. More specifically, the interest of his visit lies in his wrought iron bell which is hung at the top. In addition, the tower has been listed as a historic monument since 2011. Finally, a terrace of a café gives a magnificent view that allows to appreciate the dallages, the fountain and the light games.

8. Le Castellum Aquae

The Castellum Aquae is a basin of 5.90 m in diameter and 1.40 m in depth which is actually the arrival point of the Nîmes aqueduct. The water was channeled to the public fountains and the various districts of the city so far. A valve made it possible to adjust the flow rate. The canals of the Castellum Aquae were adapted to the ten circular holes arranged in a fan. The overflow was finally going to the sewer network, contributing to the remediation of the city. From the way to Nîmes, a tour to the Castellum is very interesting to understand the system of the pipes of the time.

9. The Halles de Nîmes

You will be marvelled by the sumptuous stalls of regional products, including picholine olives and fishes such as the daurade or oysters, fished in the morning and sold at the fishermen's counters a few hours later. Go with a minimum of appetite because at lunch, you can sit at gourmet bars with local dishes such as brandade, cassoulet and even paella.

10. The Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard is about 20 kilometres from Nîmes. It is a place that must be visited if you visit the Occitania region. With a history of more than forty centuries, the Pont du Gard is characterised by its small and large arches that overlook the Gardon. Finally, if you spend the day there, you can picnic on the small beaches on the banks of the Gardon, while some restaurants with Mediterranean flavors are located not far from the site.

11. Le Carré d’Art

After the floods of 1988 in Nîmes, the city decided to rejuvenate the square around the Maison Carrée and to build a library and a modern art space. Norman Foster won the architectural competition and its creation in steel, concrete and glass is now right in front of the temple. Although it has nine floors, the building is far from spoiling the landscape because the lower floors are all underground. The galleries host temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists, a collection of 480 works and permanent exhibitions renewed each year. Come and discover the movements of the 20th century south of France and the Mediterranean, such as New Realism and Italian Arte Povera.

12. The Roman enclosure

The Roman road of Via Domitia passed through the Porte d’Auguste down to Cadiz in Spain, linking the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula to Rome. The Emperor Augustus offered Nîmes one of the largest enclosures of the Roman Gaul. The Porte d’Auguste and the Porte de France are the only doors still visible.

13. Les Jardins de la Fontaine

A walk in the Jardins de la Fontaine de Nîmes allows you to discover two major antique monuments of the city: the temple of Diane and the Magne Tower. They are among the most memorable public parks in Europe. This is why these gardens are one of the most important things to do in Nimes.

How to get to Nimes?

Nîmes is an easily accessible city by train or by car, since it is located on the Paris-Montpellier-Barcelona line or along the A9. Nîmes also owns its own airport, but those in Marseille or Montpellier offer more flights at the start and finish. To find cheap flights to Nimes, you can search our partner's website Skyscanner .

Where to stay in Nimes?

Nîmes is a city that extends over a few 160 km2 of area, so it is important to choose the area where to stay. The ideal is to stay in the historic centre or in its surroundings. You can find a cheap hotel in Nîmes by doing a search on this Compare hotels .

Main photo credit: Flickr – Wolfgang Staudt