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Between plain and scrubland, Provence and
Languedoc, Nîmes, 2nd city of Languedoc Roussillon has a unique Roman heritage
in France. It is particularly known for its bullfights and its numerous férias
and it is also the birthplace of Daudet. In modern times it will become a
protestant safety place. Discover the city at the time of the Roman festival in
early May or at the time of the féria in June or September.
Be careful,
This program is subject to last minute
changes.
PROGRAM
Nîmes, ancient city of rich Romans has
preserved its ancient monuments. Proof that the city was very flourishing 2000
years ago, the Nîmois had an aqueduct built to transport water to the city's
ancient thermal baths. We will start our visit with the Gardens of the
Fountain, an ancient Roman necropolis built around the Nemausus spring and then
continue with a visit to the Temple of Diana. Passing in front of the ancient
great Roman temple: the Square House, so named in the 16th century in reference
to its geometrical shape with four right angles. Visit the Arena, a former
Roman amphitheater, known for its gladiator and bull shows. More than 20,000
spectators attended the shows in the bullring, which today are among the best
preserved in the Roman world. Depending on their social rank, visitors were
distributed in the ancient Roman amphitheater, but thanks to the tiered
construction, the arena at the bottom was perfectly visible from every square.
Visit of the Romanesque cathedral St.
Castor. The foundations of this 11th century Romanesque church are here enriched
by neo-gothic elements from the 17th century and also marked by the renovation
of the church in the 19th century.
However, Nîmes is not only known for its
ancient monuments, but it is also the origin of the manufacture of a product
that is indispensable today: jeans, or denim. A center of textile trade and
production in the 17th century, denim, a strong and resistant fabric, was
therefore produced in Nîmes before being exported to California by the German
fabric merchant Levi Strauss.
Finally, do not forget to touch during the
visit the nose of the symbolic animal of Nîmes which is at the fountain of the
crocodile and which will bring you happiness according to what the legend tells
us. Free time in the city. Cookies of the region offered.