The city of Nimes makes a very attractive place to visit with its quiet pedestrian lanes running through the center, and especially because of the three major Roman historic sites. There is an ancient temple, there is a large amphitheater, nearby is the famous aqueduct, Pont du Gard. Nimes is located in the south of France. Quite nearby are the cities of Arles and Avignon and just further east, you've got Aix and Marseille.
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We are arriving in Nîmes this morning by train from Avignon and will be taking you on a walking tour of the city.
Upon arrival in Nimes train station and walk a few blocks along the main busy street, Avenue Feucheres, to a shady park, and just beyond to the star attraction of town and the world’s best-preserved ancient Roman amphitheater, the most important structure in town. It forms an ellipse, 145 yards long and 115 yards wide, and it’s 70 feet high. Although it's smaller than the amphitheater in Rome, the great Coliseum or even the amphitheater in Arles, it's actually in better preservation than any of them. The arena is built of limestone blocks that are as large as 10 feet wide, perfectly adjusted without any mortar to hold it together, in that ancient Roman style. The exterior presents two stories each of sixty arches.
This two thousand-year-old city has developed in a typically European-style with narrow lanes for pedestrians meandering in a casual grid that makes a delightful place to walk. It's an extensive zone of shops and cafés extending north of the arena, with the main lane of Rue de l’Aspic running ten blocks through its center.
While the historic sites are attractive you'll also find the shopping zone very enjoyable, just meandering and people-watching.
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