Nîmes – The Most Roman City in France

 

Greetings everyone! The extraordinary changes we’re all experiencing made me think a virtual exploration might be just what we could use right now. I hope everyone is well, and safe.

Today I’m going to focus on one of the most picturesque cities I’ve visited: Nîmes ! As a lover of travel, I’m often struck by the thought that my favorite place is the one I’m currently enjoying. If that place happens to be in France, I’m a happy traveler.

All pictures can be clicked for larger images.

A Bit of History

The Roman Empire

Roman Empire 117CE - Click to enlarge
Roman Empire 117CE
By Tataryn – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19625326

The Roman Empire refers to the territory and control held by Roman emperors from the fall of the Roman Republic in 27BCE until the abdication of the last western emperor in 476CE, an amazing period of rule and influence lasting more than 500 years. The Roman Republic was founded in the sixth century BCE, but didn’t expand beyond the Italian peninsula until the third century BCE.

Via Domitia - Click to enlarge
Via Domitia
By Eric Gaba, Flappiefh – Own work from a topographic map from Eric Gaba, and from data provided by www.omnesviae.org, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20226286

La Via Domitia or Roman Road, established by the Romans, forms the basis for some of the roads we have today. These were built by the army and slaves, and were well used. In France, la Via Domitia was a route of 275km stretching between the Rhone river and the Pyrenees. Even today, sections of the road and milestones can be seen on the road from Nîmes to Beaucaire. The route climbed from Rome up to Genoa, where it split to follow the Mediterranean coast to Nice, through Arles and on to Nîmes, and further northward through Italy through Turin, and onto Briançon and Apt, where it reconnected in Nîmes. It then progressed west to Narbonne and then followed the coast on into Spain, hitting Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville, finally reaching the southwest coastal city of Cadiz.

Gaul (France)

The French territory (Celtic Gaul) fell under Roman rule starting in 121BCE, when the Empire conquered and annexed the southern territories. The influence and investments from the Empire can still be seen in many of the southern cities of France today. Some previously explored areas include present-day Lyon, one of the major hubs of Roman travel, and Arles, which benefited greatly from backing Caesar against Pompeii, as well as many other cities.

Nîmes

The city of Nîmes is often regarded as one of the most Roman cities in France, and for good reason. The influence and control by the Romans from two millennia earlier is still in evidence today.

Pradier Fountain - click to enlarge
Pradier Fountain

Walking outside the Nîmes train station to the north (there is a south exit as well), I was immediately treated to the wide Avenue Feuchères running northwest, leading to the Square du 11 Novembre 1918 and finishing at the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle, and the extraordinary arena of Nîmes. The Square du 11 Novembre is a large plaza where people spend time talking, meeting, and just enjoying the beautiful surroundings. The Pradier Fountain splashes in the center, adding to the feeling of constant activity.

Monument to the War Dead - click to enlarge
Monument to the War Dead – Esplanade Charles de Gaulle
Monument to the War Dead - click to enlarge
Monument to the War Dead – Esplanade Charles de Gaulle

Across the Esplanade Charles de Gaule is the Palais de Justice and the Place des Arènes, a large city plaza just south of the arena, with an iconic statue of the toreador Christian Montcouquiol (or Nimeño as he was known), welcoming visitors.

 

Les Arènes de Nîmes

Les Arènes de Nîmes - click to enlarge
Les Arènes de Nîmes

Les Arènes de Nîmes–the arena–is said to be the best-preserved amphitheater from the Roman Empire. It is still used today for bullfighting, concerts, and other civic events, with a capacity of 24,000 people. Built in the second century CE, the arena is accessible to visitors, and audio systems are available for self-guided tours. Entering the arenas lower level, it is easy to get an idea of the massive amount of work it took the Romans to design and construct the structure. Given that it has lasted almost 1,900 years, the quality of the work is amazing. It’s well worth the effort to climb to the top row. The interior of the arena is amazing, as are the views of the city over the walls.

 

L’Écusson

L'Écusson de Nîmes
L’Écusson de Nîmes
Image from Cycle-Hop www.cycle-hop.fr/

The Écusson, or historic center of the city, is a marvelous pedestrian section of the city where it is easy to spend time just wandering through the crisscrossing streets, moving from one open square to another.

There are many shops and restaurants in this section of the city, and it emphasizes the overall feeling of the prosperity and ease of life in Nîmes.

One great example of the city squares is the la Place de l’Horloge, featuring the Clock Tower–Tour de l’Horloge–built in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Le Tour de l’Horloge

This historic city center is bordered by broad boulevards. Blvd Victor Hugo leads to the northwest from the arena, angling slightly to the right where it becomes the Blvd Alphonse Daudet. The north end of the city center is bordered by the Blvd Gambetta, which curves gradually to the right, connecting with the Blvd Amiral Courbet which travels straight south. The Blvd Amiral Courbet angles slightly to the right, and turns into the Blvd de la Liberation, which meets back up with the Blvd Victor Hugo by the arena. For anyone with a limited amount of time, exploring the city center offers a well-defined area with plenty to see.

Maison Carrée

On the west side of the city center where Blvd Victor Hugo meets Blvd Alphonse Daudet sits the majestic Maison Carrée – the only remaining Roman temple still in its entirety.

Built by Augustus, and dedicated by his two sons Caius and Lucius, it was placed on a podium which overlooked the forum, the city’s public gathering place. Public announcements were made and public ceremonies were performed at the podium. Given its imposing size, the temple would have dominated the forum as well as the city. It is a very visible reminder of Rome’s authority.

Les Halles

Across the street and a couple of blocks to the east can be found Les Halles – the indoor shopping center.

On the ground floor are the food stalls, where people shop for the daily meals: meats, cheese, fruit, wines, etc. On the upper floors, it becomes a normal modern indoor mall, with the expected clothing, shoes, electronics, etc. that can be found in malls in every city in the western world. Les Halles is a strong draw for the travelers, not just for food and shopping, but also the air conditioning and les toilettes.

Beyond the Écusson

For those with time to explore beyond the historic city center, there are some things worth the walking and effort.

Les Quais de la Fontaine

When Rome was settling in Nîmes, the water source was a spring. The Romans immediately recognized the need for a better supply of water for their vision of an expanded Roman city. Springs were identified in the Uzès area that had enough good water to supply the city of Nîmes. The problem was getting the water from Uzès to Nîmes. The distance between the two cities was about 12 miles (20km), but would have required a 6-mile (10km) tunnel to be dug. Winding through the hills added another 18 miles (30km) for a total of 30 miles (50km). There was only a 55-foot elevation drop (17m) over the 30-mile length between Uzès and Nîmes. The Roman engineers and laborers constructed the aqueduct, which is best known for traveling over the Pont du Gard, and successfully ending with a strong water supply in Nîmes.

The aqueduct extended to a Nîmes water distribution point, the Castellum Aquae that can be found today north of the city center. The distribution center has a basin that held the water from the aqueduct, and then routed it into ten water supply channels to bath houses, public foundations, and even to privileged households with running water.

The basin has a diameter of 5.9m and depth of 1.4m. The aqueduct supplied over 50M US gallons per day or 2.2M US gallons hourly to the distribution basin, water that completely changed life in early Nîmes.

A Walled City

Nîmes was a walled city, as were many other cities in the Roman empire. Today only a few remnants are still visible. Two gates are still in existence today. The Porte Auguste (or Porte d’Arles) can be found in the north-east corner of the Écusson.

This was the entry from La Via Domitia, with two main central arches for vehicles and two side arches for pedestrians. The area around the gate is fenced off to protect the ancient rock work, but details are easily seen from just outside the fence.

Another gateway still exists, the Porte de France, located a couple of blocks to the south-west of the arena.

Unlike the Porte Auguste, the Porte de France is a single archway, integrated into the buildings around it, and an active street runs right through it.

Originally there were 14 gates in and out of the city, and the walls ran 6km around the city, with circular towers at regular intervals.

Jardins de la Fontaine

To the west of the city center is the broad Avenue Jean Jaures, a main thoroughfare running north/south, with a beautiful pedestrian pathway between the north and south running streets.

Following this avenue north leads to the incredible Jardins de la Fontaine. The entryway to the gardens is through an elaborate gate with the familiar symbol of Nîmes, the crocodile and palm tree image.

Inside the gates, the ground opens into a beautiful sculpted garden with water elements and ornate walls.

The gardens were built on the site of the sacred spring dedicated to the Celtic god Nemausus. Romans build their nymphaeum, a shrine to the nymphs of a spring which still flows today. The gardens were made over in the 18th century and were intended to celebrate the Imperial past of Nîmes.

Tour Magne

To the north of the gardens can be found another remnant of the ancient walls of the city, the Tour Magne.

The tower, along with the Porte Auguste and Porte de France, is the most substantial surviving feature of the wall. The tower stands over 100 feet tall (33m) and is actually made up of two towers, a pre-Roman tower on the interior and the outer Roman tower. The Iron-Age interior stands about 18m high. Originally the Roman tower was several meters higher. It’s a bit of a hike to get to the tower from the gardens, but I felt it was worth it. A truly incredible structure.

Temple de Diane

Inside the area of the gardens can be found the Temple of Diana. It was left untouched when the gardens were made over in the 18th century.

Its actual purpose is a mystery, as is the name. It is thought that it was built sometime during the reign of Augustus. Local folklore says this was an ancient temple dedicated to Diana, goddess of the moon. But with its layout, it was likely a library rather than a temple. The façade was rebuilt during the second century, and it housed a monastery in the middle ages. It was classified as a historic monument in 1840.

Wrap Up

Nîmes is a beautiful city, with modern and ancients elements living comfortably side by side.

It has had a long and prosperous past, and it has a busy cosmopolitan feeling today. It’s a city well worth visiting and exploring, so much to see and enjoy. I can’t wait for a chance to return.

Crocodile and the Palm Tree, the Symbol of Nîmes

A Short Stay in Sunny Perpignan

Click to enlarge
Perpignan – la Baissée

 

When I travel, I spend quite a bit of time thinking about where to go, and which routes to take. I consult maps, check train schedules, and I talk to friends.

Last year, I looked to one of my favorite regions in France: the south. In the south, I knew I’d have a pretty good shot at decent weather, even late in the shoulder season. I had wavered between spending time in Montpellier or Perpignan – both are in the southwest, and both seemed big enough to be interesting, yet small enough to allow a solo traveler a chance of exploring the city on foot.

I ended up picking Montpellier (which I documented in a previous post), so this year Perpignan made the agenda.

A Bit of History

Perpignan is located deep in the southwest of France, very close to both the Mediterranean Sea and the Spanish border. The city has changed hands over the centuries and was at one point the continental capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. The strong Catalan heritage of the city is evident in the architecture throughout the city, and many street signs are still listed in both French and Catalan.

Perpignan downtown - click to enlarge
Catalan Architecture

My Arrival

I reached Perpignan by train, although the last segment from Narbonne was delayed enough that I arrived after 22h00/10:00pm. I dropped my stuff at the hotel, and I set out to find something to eat. It was Sunday night, so my hopes weren’t too high, but still I felt like taking a chance. After trying several restaurants that had just closed, I found Le Napoli, an Italian restaurant that stays open until midnight. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a late meal on a Sunday night. It’s on the corner of Boulevard Georges Clemenceau and Cours Lazare Escarguel.

Well fed, I walked across the street and found myself face to face with a large statue of Salvador Dali seated in a large chair (Dalí en Levitation). It is just outside the FNAC department store, in the Place de Catalogne. Dali is quoted as saying that the Perpignan train station was the center of the universe after he had a spiritual experience there. Dali’s arms are open wide, welcoming visitors to the Catalan capital. The statue is 3.6 meters wide and 2.3 meters high, and it made me feel like I had found a friendly city.

Dali en Lévitation, welcoming me to the city

Starting Out

Perpignan’s history makes it ripe for visitors interested in exploring. There is a strong contrast between the medieval monuments and the wonderful modern atmosphere of the downtown pedestrian section. A great place to start exploring is Le Castille, the ancient gateway to the city.

Le Castille

Perpignan was once a walled city, as many French medieval cities were. Le Castille is a red brick gateway and is the one remaining gateway of the old wall. Constructed in the 14th century to keep invaders out, Le Castille was converted into a prison in the 17th century. Today, it houses the Casa Pairal Museum, focused on the North Catalan history. It is worth the climb to the top for the view over the downtown area, and the details of the Catalan history found throughout the museum are very illuminating.

L’Eglise Saint-Jacques

This church is on the Way of Saint James pilgrimage path and has an indescribable interior. I’m sure that most travelers, like myself, have experienced their fair share of churches, and while some are absolutely iconic, a lot of churches can start to blur together after a while.

However the church of Saint-Jacques in Perpignan was one that really visually struck me. Maybe it was the walk to get there – the roads wind around a bit – and I wandered lost for a while before arriving.

Click for a larger image
Wandering Through the City

When I finally arrived, the church was empty except for the priest who was sitting alone in the semi-darkness. He greeted me and turned on all the interior lights. With the illumination, the church was spectacular. Was it the largest church I’ve seen? No. Most ornate? Again, no. But I would recommend a visit to anyone spending time in Perpignan who enjoys the beauty of these monuments to the history of the Catholic Church.

As I completed my visit, I chatted briefly with the priest, and remarked on how beautiful I found the church. In a modest way, he said the real beauty in Perpignan was the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and I agree, it’s magnificent in its own way. However this church will hold a special place in my memories of Perpignan. Walking outside with me, the priest stopped to talk with several homeless people who were crashing on the front steps. Obviously regulars, they greeted each other and talked about normal, everyday events. There was something very comfortable and homey about the encounter, which only made this visit even more enjoyable.

L’Escalier Molière and the Majorcan Wall

Making my way back downtown through the old-town curvy streets, I came upon a group of police in riot gear apparently getting ready for something to go down. My route ran through them to the other side, I asked if it was alright if I went through. They eyed me and asked me to empty my pockets before allowing me to pass. I’m not sure what they were there for, but fortunately I didn’t seem like a high risk. This type of encounter with groups of police happened twice during my stay in Perpignan, but I didn’t ever hear of anything to explain it. Curious if anyone else knows about this?

On the far side of the police squad I arrived at l’escalier Molière, which leads down to la Place Molière. Just to the right of the stairs is a remnant of the old Majorcan wall, a reminder of the city’s history.

L'Escalier Molière - click to enlarge
L’Escalier Molière and the Majorcan Wall

Built in the 1300s using rocks from the Tet river, this remaining section of the wall was spared in 1904 from demolition because it helped hold up the base of Saint Jacques hill. More recently, it has been used as a base for modern houses.

 

Majorcan Wall - click to enlarge
Remnant of the Majorcan Wall, used as a base for a house

Bir-Hakeim Square and Promenade des Platanes

On the other side of la Place Molière is a park, the Square Bir-Hakeim and the Promenade des Platanes. In a southern city like Perpignan, it’s always a welcome discovery to find a shady area to relax, get a cold drink, and watch the world walk by. The temperatures were quite warm, and I asked a local if this was normal. Yes, the city typically is warm year-round, although they do get strong winds that blow through.

In the Square Bir-Makeim, the monument honoring those Perpignanais that fought for France in World War I – “la guerre sans fin”. Further down the Promenade des Platanes is a fountain, providing a little freshness to the warm air.

War monument - click to enlarge
Monument honoring the Perpignanais from “la guerre sans fin”
Promenade des Platanes fountain - click to enlarge
Promenade des Platanes fountain
Promenade des Platanes - click to enlarge
Promenade des Platanes

The Downtown Pedestrian Zone and Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Through the downtown area is a marvelous winding green-space, well-tended, with la Baissée – a canal routed from the Têt river – running down the middle. Multiple bridges cross the canal throughout the downtown area of the city.

The pedestrian downtown area is polished and comfortable, with multiple squares for food, beverages, and people-watching.

In the downtown area is the Hotel de Ville, located in the Place de la Loge.

Hotel de Ville - click to enlarge
Hotel de Ville

A couple of blocks from the Hotel de Ville is the Saint-Jean Cathedral. Located in the place Léon Gambetta, the cathedral dates to the 14th century, when King Sancho of Majorca began its construction. It replaced an earlier cathedral, the cathedral of Elna, becoming the first seat of the Bishop of Elne, and from 1602 was the seat of the Bishop of Perpignan-Elne. The style is Catalan Gothic and is another example of the Majorcan influence on the city’s architecture. The western façade was never finished, and when restorations were made in the 19th and 20th centuries, the gothic window of the façade was rebuilt in the style of the rest of the cathedral. Prior to that, it was a simple rectangular opening. The façade also has a clock tower and portico that date from the 18th century.

The architecture of the houses in Perpignan show the beautiful Catalan style.

Palais des Rois de Majorque

Even with all the wonderful things worth seeing when visiting Perpignan, no visitor should pass by the city without spending some time in the Majorcan Kings’ Palace, or Palais des Rois de Majorque. The Palace represents one of the most remarkable examples of the medieval civil and military architecture in Southern France. Construction began around 1276 and finished around 1300. It was built as a residence for the court of Jacques II of Mallorca.

The structure consists of high walls around an inner courtyard. The walls were surrounded by a moat and has a portico tower. In the large central courtyard, the throne room faced the chapel which dominated the public space, and the royal apartments. Multiple shops and businesses were located inside the walled castle, including a bakery, a forge, and a gunpowder factory. Outside the main courtyard was a large garden used for a variety of plants and trees, as well as for keeping exotic animals. The garden is still planted today, although not in the grand style of the original royal court.

The royal château of Perpignan is a perfect example of European fortress palaces in Europe from the end of the middle ages. It predates the Pope’s Palace in Avignon by about a half a century. In the middle of the 15th century, the château served as an arsenal, and then as a firehouse until 1958, when a door and gently rising staircase were cut in the walls to allow the public access to the palace.

An archeological dig in 2013 exposed the moat, ramparts, gate, and drawbridge.

The tall tower is accessible and offers a grand view of the city of Perpignan. It’s well worth the climb to the top, including the last internal winding staircase.

Final staircase to the top - click to enlarge
Last staircase to the top

Wind Up

Perpignan is a wonderful city blanketed in the warmth of the southern France region. It may not have the draw for tourists that other some other southern cities have, but it has its own brand of southern hospitality and charm. It is absolutely worth a trip down south to experience it firsthand.

View of the city - click to enlarge