Stories

Temple, amphitheatre, water distribution tank, ramparts: every Roman monument in Nîmes follows a precise plan. Here are a few keys to help you look at these buildings with an architect’s eye.

The crocodile chained to a palm tree is everywhere in Nîmes, from the coat of arms to the city’s logo. The symbol comes from a coin struck in the colony under Augustus.

From the Volcae Arecomici to the inscription of the Maison Carrée as a World Heritage Site, Nîmes has lived through more than twenty-five centuries. Here are twenty landmarks to help you place the monuments and traditions you will come across along the way.

The word "denim" comes from "de Nîmes". The fabric that clothes the whole world today is named after a cloth made in the city as early as the 16th century.

Twice a year, at Whitsun and in September, Nîmes lives to the rhythm of the feria. The festival blends Camargue traditions, Spanish influences, street music and bull events in the Arènes.

The food of Nîmes comes down to a few products: brandade, the Villaret croquant, the picholine olive, pélardon from the Cévennes and the Costières wines. Each has a story linked to the city or its surroundings.

Every spring, the Arènes and the historic centre host the Roman Days of Nîmes (Journées romaines). The event presents itself as the largest historical re-enactment of Antiquity in Europe.

A Roman emperor, a diplomat who gave his name to nicotine, a minister of public education, a New Wave actress: Nîmes has seen very different figures born or raised here. Here are a few portraits and the places in the city linked to them.

Few cities in France have as many standing Roman monuments as Nîmes. The Arènes, the Maison Carrée, the Tour Magne and two gates of the walls still allow you to read the layout of the colony of Nemausus.