You are now in front of Paloma, the contemporary music venue of Nîmes Métropole, at 250 Chemin de l’Aérodrome, on the east side of the town. Picture the evening of 7 September 2012: the building opens its doors, and in the years that follow, artists as different as Stromae, IAM, Shaka Ponk, Christine and the Queens, Public Enemy and The Libertines come to play here. The project was designed by the architecture firm Tetrarc. Inside, two halls complement each other: the main hall holds 1,356 people, 1,104 standing and 252 seated, and a more intimate club room welcomes around three hundred standing spectators. Paloma is not just about concerts. It also houses seven rehearsal studios, a support centre for musicians, both amateur and professional, and a cultural outreach team working with a wide range of audiences. Since 2013, Paloma has also hosted the independent festival This is not a love song, which has become a key event on the indie scene. Before going in, take time to look at the building from outside, set on the edge of town, then have a look at the programme: the best way to discover Paloma is on a concert night.
History
Paloma is the contemporary music venue, known in France as a SMAC, of the Nîmes Métropole urban community. It was opened on 7 September 2012. From 2013, it has hosted the indie music festival This is not a love song, which has made the venue known far beyond the Gard.
Art and architecture
The project was designed by the architecture firm Tetrarc. The architects worked with several engineering consultancies, including Atelier Rouch for acoustics and Architecture et Technique for stage design. The programme combines a main hall of 1,356 places (1,104 standing and 252 seated), a club room of around three hundred standing places and seven rehearsal studios.
Anecdotes
Since it opened, Paloma has welcomed artists of very different styles: Dionysos, Shaka Ponk, Camille, Public Enemy, Foals, Mass Hysteria, Stromae, IAM, Fauve, Julien Doré, Christine and the Queens, Têtes raides, Darkside and The Libertines. Few venues of this size can boast such a mix of rap, rock, French song and electronic music.
What to look for
The best way to see Paloma is to attend a concert, in the main hall or in the club. During the day, look at the building from Chemin de l’Aérodrome and imagine the two halls and the studios inside. The official website lists the programme, workshops and outreach activities offered to the public.
Practical
Paloma is at 250 Chemin de l’Aérodrome, in Nîmes, away from the historic centre. A bus stop called Paloma is on the Route d’Avignon, nearby. The official website gives details of public transport access and accessibility information in its practical section. Opening times depend on the programme: check paloma-nimes.fr before coming.
Nearby
Paloma is part of the cultural offer run by Nîmes Métropole, whose headquarters are in the Colisée, the building by Kishō Kurokawa near the Costières. To extend your cultural day, head back to the old town and its grand boulevards, around the Écusson.
On site, look for: Spot the Paloma bus stop on the Route d’Avignon, very close to the venue.
Test yourself
In what year was Paloma opened?
- 1998
- 2012 (answer)
- 2020
How many people does the main hall hold?
- 1,356 (answer)
- 5,000
- 500
Which festival has Paloma hosted since 2013?
- Jazz à Vienne
- Les Vieilles Charrues
- This is not a love song (answer)
Sources
Information checked on 6 October 2026.