4 Sights Around Nimes

If you read the previous post about the Pont du Gard, you'll most likely be staying in Nimes overnight. And unless all you want to do is sit in your hotel room and try to find a Wifi signal (which you'll have trouble with), I'd recommend walking around and seeing the sights of Nimes.

If you are staying in Nimes: Lucky you! Even if you rented a car, enjoy walking around the city. Parking is difficult and most of the interesting stuff is all within walking distance unless your hotel is on the outskirts of Nimes. (If you're not staying in Nimes, consider staying in the nearby city of Uzès one night and visiting the Pont du Gard on Day One, and sights in Nimes on Day Two.)
If you aren't staying in Nimes: Taking a car to GET there is a good idea, but DO NOT try to drive around to all of these attractions or you will never find parking. Instead, drive into central Nimes and find an underground parking lot that is centrally located. It may take a while to find one, but they are near many of the main boulevards. You can also find them at the Eglise Saint-Baudile and the Centre Commercial on Rue des Halles. Taxis are expensive and buses are slow, so I would highly recommend parking for several hours, walking around, and picking up your car later. All of these attractions are relatively close to each other.

A map of Central Nimes. The numbers correspond to the attractions.

On to the interesting stuff...

#1: Nimes Amphitheatre- If you visit one place in Nimes, visit the amphitheatre. (It's also known as one of the giant Roman arenas where gladiators fought to the death for the entertainment of people...  Sounds like the Ancient Hunger Games.)
If you've heard of the Colosseum, this is similar. It's only slightly smaller and amazingly well-preserved. Opposite the Boulevard des Arènes, there's a nice park (Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle). This is a nice spot to eat something. This is also a good time to point out that restaurants around the arena tend to be expensive and touristy. If you didn't bring food, find the Monoprix (European convenience store) on the Boulevard Amiral Courbet, just past the park.
Make sure you walk around the arena, but skip the tourist shop attached to the arena, unless you want to bring home a lot of pricey plastic keychains.
Touring the Arena: 

You've just arrived at the Ancient Hunger Games Arena.

You can take a tour inside the arena, and find out where the sweaty gladiators got sliced and where the audience watched. If you just want to see the arena and aren't into the history side of things, don't do this because it can become time consuming. Also, the inside of the arena has been completely reconstructed with metal bleachers and lights for concerts and events. For me, seeing giant trucks driving around on the arena floor kind of killed the "untouched, beautifully preserved" feeling. Personally, I wouldn't bother with the tour, but it's up to you.



 #2: Maison Carrée

The "Maison Carrée" officially translates to Square House... those clever Romans. After visiting the Nimes Amphitheatre, you probably came here. (To get here from the Amphitheatre, take the Boulevard Victor Hugo.) This Roman temple located in central Nimes, and like the arena it is very well preserved. There's lots of space around the Maison Carrée, but it gets crowded quickly. Beware of pickpockets here.

Don't walk up the steps of the Maison Careé when you're trying
 to take this dramatic photo, because you'll most likely trip and
fall, and you'll scratch your camera lens and then your brother
will bend down to help you and drop HIS camera and...
 sorry, had a flashback.

 Inside, you can watch a 20-minute film that describes what daily life is like for an inhabitant of Nimes during the Roman Empire. It's informative and quite interesting, and the 3D movie and fabulous sound system make it quite realistic. If your feet are tired and you have 5 euros burning a hole in your pocket, it's worth a try. Overall, this is a great place to sit down, relax, and enjoy some Roman architecture.
Sometimes people don't enjoy these attractions because "there's nothing to DO there" (you won't find a roller coaster at the Maison Careé), but you will enjoy it if you let yourself appreciate the monument. There's nothing like it in Canada!

#3: Eglise Saint-Baudile

The ancient, beautiful Eglise Saint-Baudile looks almost
out-of-place in the modern city of Nimes.

This cathedral is a (relatively) farther distance away from the other attractions, so I wouldn't bother with it unless your car is in the underground lot here. If possible, I would recommend parking here because it's easy to find your car-- just look for the massive cathedral and you'll find the right carpark.  It's very beautiful from the outside, with towering spires and large glass windows. Don't confuse this with the Nimes Cathedral, which is concealed in the very centre of the city. (The Nimes Cathedral is definitely less impressive than the Eglise Saint-Baudile, but there's a nice square with some good restaurants right in front of it.) It's not worth spending too much time here, but the cathedral's striking presence makes it worth a stop if you're nearby.


#4: Jardins de la Fontaine

The Jardins de la Fontaine are an excellent place for an
afternoon walk.

If you're in the mood for a relaxing walk, this is the place. Even when crowded, these gardens are wonderfully peaceful. If you didn't get enough exercise getting lost in the winding streets of Nimes, or have a little more time left before your parking pass expires, the Jardins de la Fontaine are worth a few minutes. You can take a walk along the Quai de la Fontaine, which (surprise surprise) has two fountains near the end.
The Temple of Diana is interesting and if you have 30-45 minutes, I recommend you climb to the top of the Tour de Magne at the top of the hill for spectacular views over Nimes (and a great photo op). The steep to the tower is tiring, although a great  opportunity to see the massive, sprawling gardens. There are several paths to the top; some paved, others twisting steps. Once you descend, you'll find lots more dramatic fountains all over the gardens. If you're looking for lots of flowers go in the spring or summer, when they are in full bloom.  However, the gardens are well tended and a great place for a walk and some fresh air. This is a popular attraction (for ducks as well as humans), but the gardens are quite expansive and it doesn't usually feel crowded like attractions in central Nimes. Overall, this is a peaceful haven in the middle of a bustling French city, and provides a great contrast to the narrow, shop filled streets.



If you have a day in Nimes, visit these attractions... they are not to be missed! And even if you're not going to Nimes soon, I hope you enjoyed reading!