Nîmes

Nîmes, France

Nîmes is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is also the city of spring, named after the Roman God Nemausus. In recent years Nîmes has been rediscovered as a weekend destination, thanks to, in large part, its beauty, rich architectural heritage and proximity to both the Mediterranean and Provence. There are also many exciting restaurants in the city, including Aux Plaisirs des Halles by Nîmes’ large indoor food market.

Population:

142,000

Currency:

1 Euro = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Fire brigade: 18
Medical: 15
Police: 17

Opening Hours:

Smaller shops are usually open 09.00 - 12.00 and 14.00 - 19.00. Grocery stores usually stay open 09.00 - 17.00.

Newspapers:

There are no local, English language newspapers in Nîmes, but the tourist information office can provide brochures and lend you books about the region.

The City

It was the Romans who turned the small Gallic village of Nîmes into a city. Their presence is still felt today in the large number of Roman ruins, including the Pont du Gard aqueduct and the Maison Carée temple, considered to be the best-preserved Roman temple in the whole Mediterranean. In early medieval times, Nîmes lost much of its Roman sheen. It went from having a population of 25 000, to a mere 2 500. The residents of the city were left so vulnerable that they took refuge in the amphitheatre and fortified it. Some areas of the city, like La Fontaine, were abandoned completely. Since those days, the city has seen many changes. During the 11th century it once again grew stronger and larger, thanks to its wine, olive and sheepskin trade. In the 16th century, Nîmes was badly affected by the religious war between the French Protestants, the Huguenots and the Catholic Church.

Today Nîmes is a well-healed city with a strong focus on tourism. Much of the city is being regenerated, and the old areas renovated, with a keen interest in preserving its Roman heritage. Nîmes has commissioned many accomplished architects to create interesting landmarks such as Carré d´Art. The word Denim has its birthplace in Nimes. It was used for a special fabric originated here and became known as: de Nimes - "Denim".

Do & See

Nîmes a city with two thousand years of history which are displayed around the city with cathedrals, roman temple, amphitheatre, gardens and the medieval market town of Uzès. Here you can wander through streets and squares and look at the historical attractions. You will find plenty of interesting things to do while visiting Nîmes.

Dining

Many nice restaurants can be found hidden among the Roman alleys and buildings. Nîmes is situated in the Languedoc region, but its proximity to Provence makes for an interesting culinary combination.

Cafes

The Old Town’s small squares are the places to go for cafés - place aux Herbes, place du Marché and place de la Maison-Carree. Boulevard Victor Hugo also has its fair share of cafés.