Reset search
Nimes and Roman ruins
  • Bill Sherman
  • CJ Sherman
  • Bill Sherman
  • CJ Sherman

Nimes and Roman ruins

Provence has a distinct identity within France. We go to see what it’s all about Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
InsightsCalendarPhotos
  • Trip start
    October 20, 2024
    Nimes and Roman ruins
    East side pipes for the organ, in stereo!Altar of the churchWest side pipes

    Aix en Provence

    October 20, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Little stop in Aix en Provence!
    Walk about and picnic lunch!

    The drive was amazing from Nice to Nîmes. A lot like California and also Arizona. Mountains of red clay and varied cliffs. The foliage was light green and Mediterranean with a mix of cactus and scrubs.
    Many vineyards and farms too    Read more

  • Nimes and Roman ruins
    Eglise Sainte Perpétue
    Tree lined street and train stationFontaine Pradier Nîmes in the Esplanade Charles de GaulleFontaine Pradier NîmesDaisy giving the side eye in front of the Nîmes Arena build in 80 ADBetter photo of our DoodleAmazing and kept so well. Concerts, meetings, sporting events and bulk fighting still occur hereArenaClick tower in the university buildingArenaNîmes WW1 and WW2 monumentOver 12,000 from Nîmes list in WW1 and 13,000 in WW2The best pup!

    Evening walk in Nîmes

    October 20, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Got here early enough to walk around the arena , see some churches and learn about French bullfighting! The Spanish style or Corridas has the bullfighter as the star and ends with the death of the bull. In most places it is illegal today.
    A different style, the Course Camarguaise does not end with the death of the bull. This type of bullfighting is from the Camargue region of France (southwest of Provence) and involves men, called raseteurs, trying to pull ribbons off the bull’s horns.
    The bull is the star!!
    At the end of each act, music from the opera Carmen is played. How fun this must be to watch.    Read more

  • Nimes and Roman ruins
    Tour Magne built by Romans about 400AD
    1Temple de Diane, built by Romans about 1BC at the site of a sacred springTop of Jardins de la Fontaine, showing the layout of ancient ruinsPorte France, one of the gates to the cityEglise St Perpetue and Fontaine Pradier, the woman represents the town of NimesFontaine Pradier, the woman represents Nimes, the 4 smaller statues are for the 4 rivers in NimesThrowback to Aix, stereo pipe organs!Main altar in AixWest side pipes for stereo effect

    Morning comes later

    October 21, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    I love a good double entendre… CJ and Daisy usually wake up 1-2 hours after I do. In fact, Daisy usually claims my pillow when I get out of bed. Also, with the move into fall, dawn now arrives about 8 or later. Of course it gets dark a lot earlier too.
    But I can get some really nice light on things we won’t get in midday or afternoon, so thought I’d share views from the run this morning. A little 5k around the historic center of Nîmes. I can’t wait to explore a lot more of this beautiful town. Here’s a preview.
    There’s a natural spring coming into Nimes. In Roman times, the Augusteum was built in the 2nd or 1st century BC as a vast sanctuary dedicated to the Celtic god Nemauses, where the city got its name. It was discovered in the 18th century and developed into a huge, aquatic garden, Jardins de la Fontaine, over a period of about 50 years. It flows for about 1km or 1/2 mile through the city.    Read more

  • Nimes and Roman ruins
    La Petit Train Nîmes a city tour around the old town
    Saint Paul Church down the road from our AirBnbMaison Carre, fully restored Roman temple, now history museumCanal dug to provide water for denim productionMain gate to le Jardin de la FontaineGiant koi pondIn front of giant koi pond in le Jardin de la FontaineTour Magnus, highest point in NimesTemple of Diana, cool to be able to walk inside the ruinsWild dog at Temple of DianaTree lined city streetPhoto bomb on Saint - Baudile ChurchÈglise Saints-Baudile, largest church in NimesAugustus Gate, if you can trust the paperwork, he's Bills 74th grandpaAnother gorgeous tree line streetClock tower minus the clock. This evening 63 degreesTiny cute umbrella streetRandom lane

    Day light same version of Bill’s blog

    October 21, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    We decided to take the La Petit Train around the old city to learn more and gather our surroundings.
    It was in English too (which was a surprise as they said it would not be). 45 minutes around the old town down some amazing tree lined streets and very clean.

    We went back to the Airbnb for some American PBJ and apples and off to walk the city and see more up close.

    Walked about the same 5 k + as Bill did this morning. Visited a few churches and the Jardine La Fontaine and Temple of Diana.
    We saw some amazing Roman ruins that are very well preserved.
    La Maison Carré is so well preserved. And in a gorgeous square.    Read more

  • Nimes and Roman ruins
    Pont du Gard
    Inside one of the archesLooking down the river GardonTrees along the river with a grotto to the rightOnce again, from the top!Looking from east to Pont du GardSome random dude walking through Strawberry treesSomething was digging up mushrooms and likely trufflesThey missed a few, or these are dangerous to eatCJ walking through the tunnel to the middle level of the PontThe girls from the bottom of PontView across the aqueduct from the topArbutus berry from a strawberry tree, the national tree of ItalyStrawberry tree leaves and branches

    Pont du Gard

    October 22, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    The Pont du Gard (Bridge of Gard) is a Roman aqueduct built in the first century. It stands about 160 feet (49m) high and is over 1,100 feet (360m) long as it crosses the Gardon river. At its peak it could support 11m gallons (40k cubic meters) of water per day as part of the transport from the aquifers at Uzes to Nimes, a distance of 30 miles (50km).
    It’s a 30 min drive from Nimes to either side of the Pont. There is a nice museum and history section (no dogs allowed, doggonit daisy!) and it’s surrounded by 395 acres (160 hectares) of protected lands from the river bed to the top of the bridge.
    We spent 2 hours wandering around the grounds, exploring both sides of the bridge and generally wandering around poorly marked trails (which makes Bill happy). We found many Strawberry trees with arbutus berries on them. While they are edible, it’s not much of a crop. Incidentally it is the national tree of Italy due to its red fruit, white flowers and green leaves!    Read more

  • Nimes and Roman ruins
    Saint Clément Aqueduct
    Water TowerWater TowerPorte du PeyrouPink umbrella citySt Peter's cathedralUniversity of MedicineArc ceiling at St Peter'sRandom medieval streetGorgeous street lightsYou all know we love bikes!!Back of the cathedralThe Tour des Pins, the only remaining of 25 towers of the city medieval walls, built around 1200.City Hall, locally known as Hôtel de VilleCJ and Daisy below the water towerOpera and ComedieRainbow streetTiny bit it says MontpelierRandom cute streets lines this city

    Montpellier, not the one in Vermont!

    October 23, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Montpellier is the 7th largest city in France with 300k in the center and almost 900k people in the metro area. It was founded in the 1200s. In the Middle Ages, Montpellier was an important city of the Crown of Aragon (and was the birthplace of James I), and then of Majorca, before its sale to France in 1349.
    The University of Montpellier founded in 1220 is one of the oldest in the world and has the oldest medical school still in operation, with notable alumni such as Petrarch, Nostradamus and François Rabelais.
    The city center has a large walking district surrounded by well maintained old buildings. One side has the botanical gardens, the oldest in France, main cathedral and the university. Opposite is the Place de la Comedie, Charles de Gaulle park and the Citadelle built by Louis XII about 1624 which now houses one of the most famous high schools in France, Lycée Joffre.    Read more

  • Nimes and Roman ruins
    Nimes map from 16th century
    Clock opposite Hôtel de VilleStairwell and crocodiles leading to the mayors office, coincidence? I think not!Raptor and T-Rex outside Muséum d'histoire naturelleModern dinosaur: city emblem of a crocodile

    Do nothing day in Nimes

    October 24, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    We like to set aside a day every week or two as a “do nothing day”, which is what it sounds like. Nothing planned. Hopefully, they coincide with a rainy day which makes us more compelled to hang out, read, nap, do laundry, etc.
    Today was that day of our 6 days in Nimes. CJ is feeling a little under the weather, so I went out for a walkabout.
    Went to a few new places, Hôtel de Ville, Muséum d'histoire naturelle, and Brocante hunting. When we were in Aviano, our friends shared their list of the better thrift stores. Since then, we’ve been on the hunt to find thrift stores (brocante en francais) on our trip. The 4 within walking distance weren’t really what we wanted. Clothing only, major appliances or closed. We are looking for kitschy kitchen stuff, a fancy rolling pin, moka/espresso maker, maybe something else as a memory of this trip. The hunt continues…..
    Check out the pics for some new sites in Nimes    Read more

  • Nimes and Roman ruins
    The coin with Agrippa (l), Octavius (r), and the palm tree with crocodile
    Crocodile outside the museum of natural historySymbol on top of posts all around the townIn the stairwell of the mayors officeCity emblem in the top of the gate to Fountain GardenCrocodile fountain by city hall

    Trash talk, Roman style

    October 24, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    So what’s with the crocodile in Nǐmes anyway? Well, back in the day, a Roman general named Octavius, the great nephew of Julius Caesar had to deal with a power struggle. Octavius is the grandson of Julia, Julius Caesar’s sister. Julia is my 75th great-grandmother, so basically my family is responsible for this whole place (smh!). 😄

    In 31 BCE, 13 years after the assassination of Julius Caesar, Octavius (later Emperor Augustus) and Mark Antony, allied with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, battled for power over Rome.

    This clash culminated in the naval battle of Actium! It was won by Octavius and his general Agrippa. Having become subject to Rome, Egypt was represented as a crocodile chained to a palm: a Roman symbol of victory.

    After the battle, Augustus started recommending Nîmes as a retirement home for the Roman officers who had conquered Egypt. Even in those days, professional military men retired with enough time for a second career. Did the emperor want thousands of well-trained, relatively young guys hanging around in Rome? No way! What to do? How about a nice place in the south of France...?

    In 1530s, some ancient Roman coins (see picture) were discovered in the area with the logo stamped on it. King Francis I thought it reflected the history of Nǐmes and the kings love for the city and decreed it to become the official coat of arms. Now there are crocodile images all over the city and many palm trees in pots or landscaping.

    Over 2,000 years of trash talking! Those Romans had some game!!    Read more

    Trip end
    October 25, 2024
  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice