CHECK OUT MY VIDEO ON NIMES:

WHERE IS NIMES?

In the region of Aquitaine, in the south of France, in the department of Gard. With 150 thousand inhabitants and historical monuments impressive.

1 hs from Montpellier. At 1hr and a half from Marseille.

And 2hs of Carcassonne (the famous medieval city)

INDEX:

NIMES, HER STORY:

OLD AGE:

The origin of Nîmes data sixth century.C. with the settlement of a celtic tribe known as the volcos arecomicos. It was only in the year 120 BC, when it begins to talk about the city's gallo-roman of Nemausa. It was the proconsul Gnaeus Domitius Enobarbo the who incorporated to ensure the road to Hispania, and built the via Domitia the founding of Narbonne, the capital of Gaul Transalpine and later of the Narbonense (27. C.).

Towards the 50 to. C. becomes roman colony Latin law, accredited in currencies such as Namaus or Namausatis  and is filled with monuments sumptuous. Many of the veterans of Julius Caesar were settled there, although the colony as such will not be completed for up to 27. C., via Agrippa, the right hand of the emperor Augustus.

Augustus and his successors make it a city that promotes the "romanizing" in Gaul. Nîmes grows. His enclosure was 7 km long and covering 220 hectares. In the century II, is given a stage ideal position on the via Domitia, and it's in full swing. Replaced Narbonne as a capital of the Narbonense. It is estimated that its population was about 25,000 inhabitants.

Invasions by successive century III and, subsequently, the arrival and installation of the visigoths in the century V put an end to the prosperity of the ancient city.

MIDDLE AGE:

After the defeat in the battle Vouillé before the franks in the year 507 and the destruction of the kingdom of Tolosa, the visigoths retained the city, forming part of the Septimania. (I speak of this conflict and also in the video that I made of TOULOUSE). Conquered by the muslims in 719rapidly 754 went to the carolingians, and was the seat of a county, who was linked to the Septimania. 

During the century VIII, the city had almost a tenth of the size it was in the roman era. The insecurity, growing, led the population to seek refuge in the amphitheatre and to transform it into strength. The roman walls became a quarry freely available to all. Some neighborhoods, such as that of the Source, were abandoned. 

In 872 Nimes passed to the count of Toulouse. The viscounts appear in the century IX and up to 1185 did not recognize the sovereignty feudal Toulouse. They built a new walled city. Reactivated in trade thanks to the vineyards, olive groves and sheep farming. And the Source played an important role: Its waters, which run all through the town, brought prosperity for several centuries to the tanners, dyers, and the merchants of fabrics.

Nimes was occupied by the crusaders Simon de Montfort in 1215 but was returned under the sovereignty of the viscounts of the dynasty Trencavel in 1224until 1226 the royal troops the recovered and Louis IX France 1271 incorporated to the crown of france. (I'm talking about the albigensian crusade and the cathars in the video that I made of CARCASSONNE)

MODERN AGE

In the the SIXTEENTH century, Nîmes, which had become a city “hugonota” (French protestants of Calvinist doctrine), during this reformation he lived a few wars of religion of great violence. Occurred in 1567 a massacre of catholics called “Miguelada” (During the day of San Miguel) where the protestants were massacred 90 catholics. The protestants, away from public life, were geared towards the trade and the manufacturing sector. Very soon, the production of fabrics and silk stockings were exported to Europe and the Indies in spain. Two-thirds of the active population of Nîmes worked in the field of textile.

After a period of decline that began with the revocation in 1685 the Edict of Nantesthe city was enriched and evolved. They built magnificent palaces and the city changed to an urban level. In the EIGHTEENTH century it was discovered, by chance, the sanctuary roman Font, which is taken as the basis to make a great project for urban planning. The silk industry became the manufacture of shawls thanks to the first looms Jacquard initiated by Turion (a worker Nimes). Thirty years of dazzling success placed to the industrial city of Nîmes among the most important at the european level.

CONTEMPORARY:

In the second half of the NINETEENTH century the intense commercial competition made the capital of the textile is to invest in the vineyards in order to avoid losing money. The cultivation of vines was facilitated by the construction of the canal du Midi, and the transport of wine by the railroad of Nîmes. He began a new era of prosperity. The neighborhood of the station was laid out with pomp and covered “mansions particuliers”. Finally, the station of Nîmes became the center of traffic of the coal of the Cevenas into Beaucaire and the Rhone.

Nimes has 150,000 and they are remodeling. The city has embarked on a conscious initiative, since it has been almost thirty years, to join the contemporary pointer with the riches of the past. Refurbish your old neighborhoods and extends towards the South. Trust your projects of urban planning and architecture to the largest international creators: Norman Foster, Vittorio Gregotti, Kisho Kurokawa, Mieko Inoue, Jean Nouvel, Martial Raysse, Philippe Starck and Jean-Michel Wilmotte.

SITES TO VISIT / WHAT TO SEE IN NIMES

Click on the names of the places to see their location on Google Maps.

It is a roman amphitheatre built at the end of the siglo I d. C. Throughout the history of the amphitheater suffered numerous interior renovations since the viscounts of Nîmes, built his palace-fortress within the amphitheater. Subsequently, a small district was erected in its interior, which had a few hundred homes and two chapels. These buildings remained until the EIGHTEENTH century it was decided to remove them to restore the original appearance. It is considered the most well-preserved amphitheater in the world. Today is renovated and is used for the celebration of bullfights since 1863, and other performances.

The Maison Carrée temple is a temple built in the year 16. C. by Augustus. The temple stands on a high podium and a central staircase that gives access to the façade from the forum. It is a building with six columns on the front, sides, eight of the ten columns are built into the walls. It was built in the corinthian order with marble. It is the only ancient temple fully preserved.

Built in 1745 in the area of rome of the Source. And are considered to be the public gardens oldest in Europe. The gardens are full of roman structures and of the SEVENTEENTH century, which include the Tour Magne and the Temple of Diana among many others. In him we can find fountains, statues, stairs, avenues and balustrades of the neoclassical style.

Is one of those roman ruins that will impact them. In addition, in the middle of such a Garden-having similar archaeological site free is simply fabulous. Built during the reign of Octavian Augustus in the first century is not guaranteed, that has been dedicated to the goddess Diana, roman (The equivalent of Artemis in Greek mythology). Its façade was rebuilt during the second century and during the medieval period it housed a monastery, and that is how he survived until our times.

It was built in the year 15. C., it was the highest tower and prestigious of all the wall and is visible from almost any point of Nîmes, when being nailed on the summit of mount Cavalier. Today it is located in full jardins de la Fontaine. It was a kind of beacon and a reference point for the city, pointing out the presence of the shrine of the Source, probably the place of worship prerromano. The tower with its two levels stands 32 metres, although he previously had three levels.

It was erected between the years 16 and 15. C. It had a length of 7 km, a height of 9 m and a width of 2 m. Today only still stand two doors and some fragments of walls. In front of the wall passed the Via Domitia. In front of the gate of Augustus is the Église Saint-Baudile de Nîmes

I found a super place beautiful, that conveys peace and abounds with history. Having a font with a roman emperor who, depending on where you are you can also see the roman temple Maison Carrée is simply fabulous. Transports you to the past.

TOUR RECOMMENDED

You arrive from Carcassonne / Toulouse or Barcelona or wherever, the more likely it is you get off at the bus station or train they are practically side by side. From there walk to the historic center is quite close and is super nice to do. I ripped through the Arena of Nimes, which without a doubt is the best and I recommend doing that; it takes time to traverse and there you can buy a combined ticket for the Arena, museum romanité, Tower of Magna and the Maison Carrée (The roman temple). The rest is all free. You will be able to guide you with this blog. going to all the places you recommended above, taking the location of each place on google maps, as you say, and all the details of each place.

FREE WALKING TOURS RECOMMENDED TO MONTPELLIER (I DIDN'T SEE ONE IN NIMES):

WHERE TO STAY IN NIMES?

Well I stayed in Carcassonne, not in Nimes, in Le Couvent Hostel 4 nights for a total of $127USD / $122,40€ that is 30,6€ by night. It is located in the bastide de San Luisvery close to the stop of the Flixbus and train station. To 2hs Nimes.

They are very good facilities! With room for 4 people with bathroom incubated or 2 people with private bathroom in the hall (I could see I). They have a restaurant very nice but did not have breakfast. I was able to ask for water for mate 🧉 and were always very attentive and with a smile. Due to the extreme cold, and any failure of your heating, I went from the room of 4 to 2 (in both I was alone). Fortunately there was more cushioned and we sobreellevar the cold. I was given a birra 🍺 during the match of Brazil for the world cup (for the inconvenience). And as they do not have towelsyou sell them for 4€ (a small) that still have it and use it in my travel ja!

Of course there are other options if your budget is more bulky or if you don't want to hostels.

TOMI TIPS

-I didn't have a lot of time in the city, because the Bla Bla Car left me 1 hour from the center and it was raining torrentially. In addition, the Bla Bla Car back I defrauded. But that gave me the chance to tell you that with a little time you can do a lot. Nimes while it is not as small as most of the city's important you see it walk. If you want to go to museums because you will need 1 full day.

-The archaeological treasure of ancient ruins of the roman era is impressive. Only you must pay to enter to the Arena of Nimes (Impressive), The Maisón Carrée (the best is What you see from the outside) and the Tower Magna (great views). Obviously the museums, I would have liked to go but I didn't reached the time. The rest is all free.

-If you're going in the winter abrigate a blast! I went during the month of December 2022 was very cool and it rained torrentially.

HOW TO GO FROM CARCASSONNE TO NIMES

Sunday 04/12/22 I went to Nimes from Carcassonne in Bla Bla Car by 23€ the trip out to the 9.50 and arriving 2hs after. While I accepted that the point of arrival in Nimes was away from the centre, I couldn't imagine that it rains in torrents, and that the girl is not apiadara of my. Well, that left me and went walking with umbrellas, but there was no chance of not getting wet. I arrived at the Arena of Nîmes made soup. Luckily, the day improved and it was beautiful during the rest of the afternoon. But for the back I have another problem with the driver of Bla Bla Car. I defrauded. Agreed to the trip but left me planted. I had to quickly find another, and had not, therefore I had to go from Nîmes to Montpellier by train 10,3€ and there, to ask for another Bla Bla Car this if it was a bread of God, and it led me to Carcassonne without problems 17€. It was pretty stressful, and after a few days I was able to recover the money from the scammer, if you want to be the story better in this video:  

Every day I was in France there was a stop of public transport. Why had no choice but to use Bla Bla Car. While I was able to get the train from Nimes to Montpellier, there was nothing to go to Carcassonne.