Nîmes is one of the region’s most well known touristic destinations. Located between the Cévennes Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, near the famous Pont du Gard, Nîmes is a city with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Visitors come to visit the monuments and participate in the numerous annual festivals. Founded during antiquity, the city has amazingly well conserved structures from the Roman Period, most notably the Arena, the Maison Carrée, and the Magne Tower in the splendid Fontaine Gardens.
Today the city is known as the French Rome. However, to say it is only Roman would be unfair to the other cultures that have also left their footprint. Spanish, Camarguaise, Cévenole, Languedocienne, and Provencal and just a few of the city’s influences. Nimes has also been a Protestant stronghold since the beginning of the 14th century. All of these elements come together to give Nîmes its strong identity.
Thanks to its historical, architectural, and cultural heritage the city is an official “Village of Art and History.” The city is currently working on the creation of a Museum of Roman History with some of today’s most well known architects in addition to becoming one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites.