- -VIe s. The Volcae ArecomiciIn the 6th century BC, the Celtic people of the Volcae Arecomici settled around a spring. This spring, dedicated to the god Nemausus, would give the city its name.
- -120 Rome arrivesThe Roman legions arrived in the region without meeting any resistance. The territory of the Volcae came into Rome’s orbit.
- -118 The Via DomitiaConstruction of the Via Domitia began. This road linked Italy to Spain and passed through Nîmes, making the city an important stop.
- -27 The as de NîmesAround 28 to 27 BC, the colony struck a coin showing Augustus and Agrippa on one side and a crocodile chained to a palm tree on the other. The motif celebrates the victory of Actium and the subjugation of Egypt.
- -16 The walls of AugustusAround 16 BC, the city was given walls more than 6 kilometres long, with around 80 towers and about ten gates. The Porte d’Auguste and the Tour Magne are remains of them.
- Ier s. The Maison CarréeAt the beginning of the 1st century, a Corinthian temple was completed on the forum. It was dedicated to Gaius and Lucius Caesar, grandsons and heirs of Augustus.
- 40-80 The aqueduct and the Pont du GardAn aqueduct about 50 kilometres long brought water from the Eure spring, near Uzès, to the castellum of Nîmes. It crossed the Gardon river by the Pont du Gard.
- 90-120 The ArènesThe amphitheatre was built between around 90 and 120. It could hold 20,000 spectators and remains one of the best preserved in the ancient world.
- 725 The city is takenMuslim troops seized Nîmes in 725. They were driven out for good in 752.
- 1198 The consulateIn 1198, the city appointed four consuls to run its affairs. The Maison Carrée served as the town hall from the 11th to the 16th century.
- 1535 The crocodile coat of armsUnder Francis I, in 1535, Nîmes adopted a coat of arms featuring the crocodile and palm tree of the ancient coin.
- 1557 The serge de NîmesAs early as 1557, a cloth mixing wool and silk was woven in Nîmes. Exported through the Beaucaire fair, it gave rise to the word "denim".
- 1567 The MicheladeIn 1567, Protestants attacked the city’s Catholics. The episode, known as the Michelade, left around 90 dead.
- 1685 Revocation of the Edict of NantesThe revocation of the Edict of Nantes opened a period of persecution against Protestants, who were numerous in Nîmes.
- 1775 The Villaret bakeryThe baker Claude Villaret took over a shop in what is now rue de la Madeleine. His son Jules developed the almond croquant there.
- 1839 The railwayThe railway reached Nîmes in 1839. The city became a centre of the textile and wine trade.
- 1952 The first feriaThe first feria was held in 1952. It has taken place at Whitsun ever since, and a second one is held in September, at grape harvest time.
- 1985 Starck’s logoThe designer Philippe Starck redrew the crocodile and the palm tree in 1985. This logo has become the city’s graphic emblem.
- 1988 The floodIn 1988, torrential rain caused a catastrophic flood: more than 10 million cubic metres of water swept through the city.
- 2023 World HeritageIn September 2023, UNESCO inscribed the Maison Carrée on the World Heritage List. It is the 51st French property to be inscribed.
A city of successive layers
Nîmes can be read as a series of layers. The sacred spring of the Volcae attracted Rome, which gave the colony walls, a temple, an amphitheatre and an aqueduct. The Middle Ages reused these buildings: the Maison Carrée, for instance, served as the town hall. The following centuries saw Catholics and Protestants clash, then the growth of textiles and the wine trade.
In the 20th century, the city chose to set the ancient alongside the contemporary. The Carré d’Art, opened in 1993, faces the Maison Carrée. The Museum of Roman History (Musée de la Romanité), opened in 2018, looks out over the Arènes.
- Population (2023)
- 151,839 inhabitants
- Paris by TGV
- about 2 hours 50 minutes
- Carré d’Art
- opened in 1993
- Musée de la Romanité
- opened in 2018