Nîmes is a city in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The place was inhabited by Celts before it in the 100s BC. became part of the Roman province of Narbonnensis. The area’s main road led through the city, which in the Roman Empire was called Colonia Nemausa, and which in the time of Emperor Augustus was the regional capital and home to around 60,000 inhabitants.

The Romans constructed many buildings in and around the city, such as the city’s amphitheater and the Pont du Gard aqueduct. After the Romans, the Visigoths and Moors arrived, before Louis VIII conquered the city in 1226, and it became part of France in 1259. Later, Nîmes became economically important due not least to the large textile industry, which gave the name to denim trousers, referring to the fact that the fabric originated from Nîmes.

Today, there are many things to see in Nîmes’ atmospheric old town, and a natural place to start is at the city’s landmark, the ancient Roman amphitheater, the Arènes de Nîmes. The theater was built around 70 BC and is well preserved. The inspiration from Rome’s Colosseum is very clear when you look at the beautiful and harmonious building.

The theater was built for 24,000 spectators, and after a time as barracks in the Middle Ages, it regained its original role as a theater in the 1800s. The theatre’s first bullfight was held in 1863, and since then various events have been held here, and the arena is now the region’s largest concert venue.

From the amphitheater you can walk along the beautifully landscaped Boulevard Victor Hugo to the square named Place de la Maison Carrée. Here you can enjoy the view of Maison Carrée, which is one of the world’s best-preserved Roman temples. It was built in the year 5 in memory of Caïus and Lucius Cæsar. It was part of the forum of Nîmes, which was the Roman administrative and economic center of the city.

The temple’s architecture was inspired by the Temple of Apollo in Rome, and over time it has housed Nîmes’ consul, a church and hosted a residence. Today it houses an exhibition about the history of the building. Opposite the Maison Carrée you can see the large building, the Carré d’Art, which is home to Nîmes’ Museum of Modern Art.

You can continue north from the Place de la Maison Carrée and after a short time you will come to the Quai de la Fontaine, a beautifully landscaped tree-lined canal that runs from the Place Antonin on the edge of the old town to an island surrounded by water and the Jardins de la Fontaine park. The park is one of the finest of its kind in Europe and was established in the 1740s by King Louis XV around the spring believed to be the site of Nîmes’ founding.

The entire beautiful facility was built on the same site as old Roman baths, and remains from this time are still preserved in the 18th-century park. You can also see the nymphaeum and the fine ruins of the Temple de Diane, built in the 1st century.

On the ridge of Mont Cavalier, the Tour Magne rises above Nîmes. The tower was built in 16-15 BC. as part of the city’s defenses, and at the time it was integrated into a city wall. Originally the tower was 36 meters high, while today it measures 32.5 meters. You can also see the church Église St-Baudile in Nîmes. With its two slender towers and a spacious interior, it is a mighty church. It is named after Saint Baudilus, whose fate is attached to the city of Nîmes.

According to legend, Baudilus was killed by pagan priests and when his head rolled off, it hit the ground three times. A spring emerged at each place, and hence the name Trois-Fontaines, which can also be found in the town. The actual place of this martyrdom is marked at Saint Baudilus’ Crypt.

In central Nîmes, you can also visit the city’s cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Castor, which was built in its current form in the 17th century. Next to the cathedral, you can visit the Musée du Vieux Nîmes, a historical museum of old Nîmes. At the museum there are interesting collections of e.g. textiles, industrial art, iconography, ceramics, furniture and visual arts.

A little north of this is Nîmes’ citadel, which was constructed in 1688 and which today is set up as part of the city’s university. Just west of the citadel you can see the Castellum Aquae, a Roman building that was built at the end of an aqueduct that brought water here. There was a large tank in the Castellum Aquae, and from here the water was distributed to various places in the city.