Here you are in Square Antonin, in the north-west of the Écusson, where boulevard Alphonse-Daudet, the Quais de la Fontaine and rue Auguste meet. In the centre stands the statue of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius. Why him, in Nîmes? Because his family came from the Roman colony of Nemausus, ancient Nîmes. In 1862, the town council decided to create this square, and the statue was inaugurated in 1874. It was carved in Carrara marble by Auguste Bosc. The square was designed by the Provençal architect Henri Révoil, and the iron railing around it is the work of the locksmith Marius Nicolas. An interesting detail: the square was built on the old terminal basin of the Fontaine canal, the canal you can follow all the way to the gardens. Go up to the pedestal. You will read a Latin inscription, "Senatus populusque nemausensis", meaning the Senate and people of Nîmes, along with the emperor’s full titles. Four lines by the Nîmes poet Jean Reboul are also engraved there.
History
The town council decided to create the square in 1862. The statue of the emperor Antoninus Pius was inaugurated in 1874. This choice paid tribute to an emperor whose family came from Nemausus.
The square was built on the old terminal basin of the Fontaine canal.
Art and architecture
The Provençal architect Henri Révoil designed the square. The iron railing enclosing it was made by the locksmith Marius Nicolas. The central statue, in Carrara marble, is the work of Auguste Bosc.
Anecdotes
The pedestal bears the Latin inscription "SENATVS POPVLVSQVE NEMAVSENSIS", the Senate and people of Nîmes, along with the emperor’s titles. You will also find four lines by the Nîmes poet Jean Reboul.
What to look for
Look at the marble statue, then walk around the pedestal to read the Latin inscription and Jean Reboul’s lines. Look also at Marius Nicolas’s iron railing.
Practical
The square has free access, at the junction of boulevard Alphonse-Daudet and the Quais de la Fontaine, a few minutes’ walk from the Maison Carrée.
Nearby
The Quais de la Fontaine lead to the Jardins de la Fontaine. The Maison Carrée and the Carré d’Art are very close.
On site, look for: Find on the pedestal the Latin inscription that begins with "SENATVS".
Test yourself
Why is Antoninus honoured in Nîmes?
- He built the Arena
- He died there
- His family came from Nemausus (answer)
Who sculpted the statue?
- Auguste Bosc (answer)
- James Pradier
- Martial Raysse
What material is it made of?
- Bronze
- Carrara marble (answer)
- Stone from the Pont du Gard
Sources
Information checked on 6 October 2026.