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Nimes Sights and Landmarks Guide, France

Nimes, a small town in France was established by Romans about two millennia ago. There is a lot to explore and see in this beautiful town. A great blend of ancient classical architecture and dazzling cosmopolitan look of the town will definitely leave you mesmerized. Nimes sights may not be as glamorous as of the ones in Lyon or Paris but they definitely promise to offer you an interesting vacation.

Nimes sights: Museums

Nimes has handful of museums that offer the perfect opportunity to peep into the glorious past of the town. Exploring these museums gets you close to the cultural roots of Nimes. Musée d'Archéologie is a fascinating place that has pre Roman, Roman and African artifacts, tombs and other earthed items from Nimes and places around the town. This museum also has a section that can be called a natural history museum that has a huge number of stuffed animals that are now extinct.

For those who love modern art, there is Musée d'Art Contemporain. This museum offers a fabulous collection of modern art. At Musée des Beaux-Arts you can see some of the finest collections of Roman, French and Italian work.

Nimes Sights: Places of religious importance

Maison Carrée is one of the most visited Nimes sights. It is a beautiful temple that was built during the reign of Caesar Augustus. Huge Corinthian columns that are encircled by a big platform speak of the architectural superiority of yester years. A number of exhibitions and cultural events are held within the temple premises. The Temple of Diana in the Fountain Gardens Park is another popular tourist sight. Most parts of the temple had been destroyed during the war of religions in the medieval ages and it is still not known as to which God or Goddess the temple was dedicated. The temple is estimated to be constructed in the 2nd century.

Nimes Sights: Other attractions

One cannot miss visiting Amphitheatre Romain when in Nimes. This construction is more than 2000 years old. Amphitheatre Romain has around sixty arches that are built of huge stones. The place was earlier used for gladiator combats but now the theatre is a venue for bull fights and ballet performances. The amphitheatre can accommodate around 24000 audiences at one time.

The Magne tower is part of ancient fortification of the city. The top of the tower gets you a great view of the city and surrounding areas. Then the older areas of the city including the areas of Place aux Herbes and the Place d'Horloge have an array of nineteenth century buildings built in great architectural styles and are a pleasure to look at.

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