Nîmes: The Roman city par excellence

Lovers of art and history will already be familiar with Nîmes and its emblematic monuments. But far from being a simple "museum town", inert and stuffy, Nîmes, like many towns in the South of France, is a whirlwind. Vibrant, dynamic and sunny, Nîmes is a warm whirlwind of lifestyle, festivity and culture. It's easy to get carried away as you wander through the streets and alleys of the hypercentre, where you're sure to come across the remains of a rich and extraordinary history, that of the Roman Empire. How can you visit the city without missing anything? What's the climate like in Nîmes? What are the city's unmissable districts and monuments? Fortunately, we're going to share all our tips and tricks so that Nîmes is no longer a secret to its visitors.

Aerial view of Nîmes and its emblematic arena

- © Alexey Fedorenko / Shutterstock

Nîmes: a city marked by its history

Nîmes' Romanesque-Gothic church, in the heart of the city.

- © Sergey Dzyuba / Shutterstock

Nîmes tells its story through its stones. And what a history it is! Nîmes was one of the most important colonies in the Roman world, and the traces of this history can still be seen today in the many monuments dating from the Roman era that can still be admired. These are among the most beautiful and best preserved of the ancient empire, including the famous arenas, the Maison Carrée (a temple dedicated to Lucius and Caius), the Tour Magne, the Porte Auguste, the Nîmes aqueduct and many others.

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Why visit Nîmes?

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Flight to Nîmes

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As well as its world-famous historical monuments, Nîmes is also very much appreciated for its atmosphere. Warmth, festivities, colour and authenticity are the perfect adjectives to describe this town that smells of sunshine and where the cicadas sing their hearts out for much of the year. "A native of the town tells you so!

The statue of a toreador in front of the Nîmes bullring.

- © SCStock / Shutterstock
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When should you visit Nîmes?

It's no surprise that Nîmes has a Mediterranean climate. It's a very pleasant climate, with mild winters and hot, sunny summers. To avoid suffocating in the city, we recommend that you travel to Nîmes in May or June, to take advantage of the pre-season. Or, conversely, in the off-season, in September, to take advantage of the Indian summer.

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by Jude JONES
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