 The Maison Carrée in Nīmes
Nīmes is a city in southern France. It is the capital of the Gard department
The city derives its name from that of a spring, Nemausus, in the Roman village. The contemporary symbol and shield of the city of Nīmes includes a crocodile chained to a palm tree with the inscription 'COLNEM', an abbreviation of 'Colonia Nemausus', meaning the 'colony' or 'settlement' of Nemausus. Veterans of the Roman legions who had served Julius Caesar in his Nile campaigns, at the end of fifteen years of soldiering, were given plots of land to cultivate on the plain of Nīmes.
Nīmes 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 Nīmes:
* The elliptical Roman amphitheatre, of the first or second century AD, is the best-preserved Roman arena in France. It was filled with medieval housing, when its walls served as ramparts, but they were 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 Agrippa was built c. 19 BC. It is one of the best-preserved Roman temples anywhere. Today, visitors can watch a short film about the history of Nimes inside.
* The 18th-century Jardins de la Fontaine (Gardens of the Fountain)
* The nearby Pont du Gard, 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.
information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
Bouquets & Posies
Flower Arrangements
Roses
Celebration Flowers
Sympathy Tributes
Gift Plants
