Nîmes is the prefecture of Gard (30000) and one of France’s best-preserved Roman cities. From Camping Les Amandiers, it’s about a thirty-minute drive: the Arena, Maison Carrée, Tour Magne, Jardins de la Fontaine, and Museum of Romanity make for a full day of cultural exploration.
Nicknamed the French Rome, Nîmes was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BCE and was long a center of trade and culture. Its identity blends Camargue, Provençal, and Hispanic influences, which is reflected in its festivals.
The Féria de Nîmes takes place twice a year and attracts thousands of visitors. The Great Roman Games are another major event for ancient history enthusiasts. In January, the flamenco festival extends the city’s Hispanic heritage.
The Nîmes Arena: a 1st-century amphitheater, one of the best-preserved in the Roman world, now used for concerts and férias.
The Maison Carrée: built in the 1st century and dedicated to Augustus, it has served as a consular house, church, and museum. It is the best-preserved Roman temple in the world.
The Tour Magne: Nîmes’ most imposing Gallo-Roman monument. It dominates Mount Cavalier and offers panoramic views of the city.
The Jardins de la Fontaine: one of Europe’s first public gardens, at the foot of the Tour Magne.
The Temple of Diana: a Roman edifice damaged by fire, of which a barrel-vaulted nave and two side corridors remain.
The Pont du Gard: about twenty kilometers away, this Roman aqueduct from the first half of the 1st century is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Nîmes is labeled a City of Art and History. The Museum of Romanity, whose terrace overlooks the arena, is the most comprehensive entry point to understanding the city’s ancient past. The Museum of Old Nîmes and the Museum of Bullfighting Cultures explore local history and traditions.
For art, the Carré d’Art Jean Bousquet, a contemporary art museum located opposite the Maison Carrée, and the Museum of Fine Arts complete the visit.
More recent centuries have left other traces: private mansions, artistic ironwork, squares, and religious buildings such as the Grand Temple, the Petit Temple, the Sainte-Eugénie chapel, the Jesuit chapel, and the Romanesque Saint-Castor Cathedral.
For contemporary architecture, note the Abribus, a piece of urban furniture, the Paloma contemporary music venue, and the Colisée, whose lines echo those of the ancient amphitheater.
Camping Les Amandiers is located between Nîmes and Montpellier, with direct access via the A9 motorway, exit 26. Allow about thirty minutes to reach the city center.
The ideal is to leave in the morning and start with the arena or the Museum of Romanity before the heat rises. Continue with the Maison Carrée, then the Jardins de la Fontaine and the Tour Magne in the late afternoon. Plan to stroll through the Écusson, the historic center, and take a break on a terrace there.
Anticipate parking as you approach the center, especially in summer and on event days at the arena.
Set in a 4-hectare wooded park, the campsite offers mobile homes for 2 to 4 people, family models for 5 to 6 people, and pitches for tents, caravans, and motorhomes.
Upon returning from Nîmes, the aquatic area and the campsite activities allow you to end the day peacefully. The Camargue Gardois, Aigues-Mortes 20 km away, and La Grande-Motte 22 km away are also accessible from the campsite.
Mobile Homes
One day allows you to see the arena, the Maison Carrée, the Jardins de la Fontaine, and the Tour Magne, with a visit to the Museum of Romanity. By starting early, there’s still time to stroll through the Écusson, the historic center, and take a break on a terrace.
Nîmes owes this nickname to the density of its Roman heritage. Founded in the 1st century BCE, it preserves one of the best-preserved amphitheaters in the Roman world, the best-preserved temple in the world with the Maison Carrée, as well as the Tour Magne and the Temple of Diana.
The Féria de Nîmes is held twice a year: the Pentecost Féria, in May or June, and the Grape Harvest Féria, in September. They attract thousands of visitors and largely take place in the arena and in the city center streets.
Camping Les Amandiers, in Gallargues-le-Montueux, is about thirty minutes from Nîmes by car, with access via the A9 motorway, exit 26. The campsite is halfway between Nîmes and Montpellier.
Camping Les Amandiers, a 4-star campsite, is located 30 minutes from Nîmes in a 4-hectare wooded park. It offers mobile homes for 2 to 6 people, unusual accommodations, and pitches for tents and caravans, with a swimming pool, restaurant, and activities, from April 1st to September 20th.
Nîmes
30000 Nîmes
