Top 5 Things to See in Nimes, France, Nimes, France

Some of the best-preserved Roman ruins can be found outside of Rome, and the region of Provence in southern France is a great place to experience the impact and impressiveness that was the Roman Empire. From Arles to Orange, the Romans left their mark throughout the region in the form of arches, aqueducts, arenas and more, many of which still stand in all of their Roman glory for visitors to enjoy today. In fact, the name Provence comes from the region’s status as the first Roman province when it was known as Provincia Romana or Provincia Nostra. Nîmes was the capital of the region under the Emperor Augustus, hence many architectural projects flourished throughout the city. It turned to be one of my favorite cities in Provence and here are some top Roman-inspired sights to see when visiting Nîmes.

Perhaps the most incredible site in Nîmes is its arena. Built around 100 A.D. shortly after the Colosseum in Rome, it’s one of the best-preserved amphitheaters from the Roman empire, especially impressive since it’s still used for concerts, bull fights and other events today. While may be half size of its older sister in Rome, the Arènes de Nîmes was among the largest with seating for up to 24,000 spectators. Standing two levels tall, its shape is a perfectly symmetrical ellipse without a bad seat in the house. During its heyday, the arena (which means “sand” in Latin – good for soaking up blood from its floor) played host to animal events in the morning, public executions in the mid-day and gladiator fights in the evening. This type of fighting was a respected profession for money and glory, not a fight to the death as popularly believed. Visitors can take in different vantage points from the seating area, explore its galleries and even climb to the top for city views. Guided tours are offered in the summer months and a free audio guide features a fictional story narrating what it would have been like to attend an event. And if you’re planning on visiting some of the other major sites in Nîmes, the Pass Romanité is a good value. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).