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1 History

The city derives its name from Nemausus, perhaps the sacred wood in which the Celtic tribe of Volcae Arecomici (who of their own accord surrendered to the Romans in 121 BC) held their assemblies (according to Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911) or perhaps the local Celtic spirit guardian of the spring that originally provided all water for the settlement, as many modern sources suggest. Or perhaps Stephanus of Byzantium was correct in stating in his geographical dictionary that Nemausos, the city of Gaul, took its name from the Heracleid (or son of Heracles) Nemausios.

2 Sights

Nîmes may have been one of the richest and finest Roman cities of Gaul. Several important remains of the Roman Empire can still be seen in and around Nîmes:

• The elliptical Roman amphitheatre, of the 1st or 2nd century1st century 2nd century 3rd century other centuries) Events Roman Empire governed by the Five Good Emperors' ( 96 180) Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius. Significant persons Cai Lun, Chinese inventor Galen, medical writer Saint Irena AD, is the best-preserved Roman arena in France. It filled with medieval housing, when its walls served as rampartRampart may mean: A type of defensive wall consisting of a low earthen embankment topped by a parapet or palisade. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department; see CRASH Ramparts a liberal American magazine. The Rampart arcade game.s, but was cleared under Napoleon. It is still used today as a bull fighting and concert arena.
• The Maison Carrée (Square House), a small Roman temple dedicated to sons of AgrippaMarcus Vipsanius Agrippa ( 63 BC- 12 BC) was a Roman statesman and general, son-in-law and minister of the emperor Caesar Augustus. He is best known for winning the naval Battle of Actium against the forces of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra. Agrippa was of was built c. 19 BCCenturies: 2nd century BC 1st century BC 1st century Decades: 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s Years: 24 BC 23 BC 22 BC 21 BC 20 BC 19 BC 18 BC 17 BC 16 BC 15 BC 14 BC Events Births Deaths Virgil, Roman poet Albius Tibullus, Ro. It is one of the best-preserved Roman temples anywhere.
• The nearby Pont du GardThe Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct in the south of France, located near Remoulins, in the Gard departement''. Name Pont du Gard means literally bridge over the Gard (river . The Gard river, which has given its name to the Gard departement does not actua, also built by Agrippa, is a well-preserved aqueduct that used to carry water across the small Gardon river valley.
• The nearby Mont Cavalier is crowned by the Tour Magne ("Great Tower"), a ruined Roman tower.

Later monuments include:

• The cathedral (Saint Castor), occupying, it is believed, the site of the temple of Augustus, is partly Romanesque and partly Gothic in style.

There is modern architecture at Nîmes too: Norman Foster conceived the Carré d'art (1986), a museum of modern art and mediatheque; Jean Nouvel the Nemausus, a post-modern residential ensemble, and Kisho Kurokawa a building in the form of a hemicycle to reflect the Amphitheatre.

Tree-shaded boulevards trace the foundations of its former city walls.

Nîmes is historically known for its textiles. Denim, the fabric of blue jeans, derives its name from this city (Serge de Nîmes).