DP GB au 1er FEVR 2011

Nîmes
Press Pack
Arènes - © OT Nîmes OM
Contents
History and Heritage
A bridge across the ages ........................................ 2
Roman buildings ................................................. 4
From the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightenment ........ 5
Contemporary architecture ................................... 6
The Art of Good Living
Nîmes—a way of life ............................................ 8
Scents and savours .............................................. 9
Local colour .................................................... 10
Having Fun in Nîmes
Féria, fiesta and good company ............................. 12
What not to miss ............................................ 13-14
Curiosity & Anecdotes
The fascinating story of denim ..............................
The palm tree and the crocodile ............................
“Brandade” as made by Durand .............................
Bullfighting Museum ..........................................
The Perrier Spring ............................................
Pure Gold from Green Olives ................................
15
15
16
16
17
17
Around Nîmes
Nîmes: a base for exploring the region .....................
The Pont du Gard and the Uzège Region ...................
The Camargue ..................................................
Provence ........................................................
The Cévennes ..................................................
18
18
19
19
19
Contacts ....................................................... 21
Nîmes Tourist Office
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History and Heritage
A bridge across the ages
In Nîmes, one period runs into
another. Set on the Roman Domitian
Way running from Spain to Italy, it is
a place where several cultures have
met and, at the same time, the
different periods that have marked
the city have blended to form a
unified architectural and cultural
entity.
The first sign of human occupation
dates back some 4,500 years but it
seems that Nîmes was really born in
the 6th century BC at the spring
Maison Carrée from Carré d’Art - © C.P. OT Nîmes
where the Jardins de la Fontaine are
today. First, this life-giving spring, later called Nemausa, encouraged nomadic
Celts to settle and to associate the town with Nemausus, the god of the spring.
When the Romans set out to conquer the world, they took Gaul and also the god of
the spring, as was their custom.
The spring has never dried up, but its flow was too irregular to supply all the needs
of highly civilized Roman settlers.
This led indirectly to the
construction of a 50-kilometre
aqueduct, including the imposing
Pont du Gard, to provide the town
with water. During the GalloRoman period, Nîmes became a
colony under Latin Law and was
ornamented
with
sumptuous
monuments
such
as
the
Amphitheatre, the Maison Carrée
and Diana’s Temple, all of which
can still be admired today.
Amphitheatre - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
Nîmes went through a long period of decline in the Middle Ages, and only recovered
from 1000 AD onwards. Trade started again, thanks to the vineyards, olives and
sheep farming in the area.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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In the sixteenth century, the region suffered from the Wars of Religion and the
Protestants living in Nîmes were excluded from public life and turned to trade.
Their cloth production was soon exported within Europe and to the Spanish Indies.
The city became rich and was embellished. Numerous 16th, 17th and 18th-century
private mansions still show how prosperous this period was.
Fontfroide, private mansion - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
In the nineteenth century, the city became affluent again thanks to the rapid
success of both the silk industry and wine making.
Today, Nîmes is resolutely turned towards the future. But it is not only
contemporary: its history is part of the present. The town has put leading-edge
contemporary art and treasures from the past side by side for about 20 years.
Carré d’Art, designed by
the British architect Lord
Norman Foster, is a perfect
illustration of the role
played by contemporary
art and architecture in
2000-year old Nîmes. This
daring blend of styles
began some twenty years
ago with work by Lord
Norman
Foster,
JeanMichel Wilmotte, Martial
Raysse, Kisho Kurokawa,
Jean Nouvel, Takis and
Maison Carrée & Carré d’Art - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
others.
No other town the size of Nîmes can boast of having works by so many of the finest
modern architects and artists—works that have become an integral part of the
ancient city.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Heritage
Discover some of the most representative historical and contemporary sites to
appreciate the harmonious blend of old and new.
Roman buildings
Amphitheatre
Built at the end of the first century
AD, the amphitheatre in Nîmes was
one of the largest in Roman Gaul and
is the best-preserved of the Roman
world. Inside, more than 20,000
spectators enjoyed hunting and
fighting shows featuring animals and
gladiators. Today, the self-guided
tour and multimedia areas devoted to
gladiators and bullfighting plunge you
into the fascinating atmosphere of
Galdiators in the amphitheatre - © Culturespaces
the place. For groups, qualified official guides recount the history of this imposing
monument.
Maison Carrée ('Square' house)
Superbly preserved, the Maison Carrée is a
former imperial temple with Corinthian
capitals and stood at the centre of the
Roman city. Built in the first century AD, the
monument was dedicated to Caius and
Lucius Caesar, the grandson and adopted son
of Emperor Augustus. Today, thanks to a
new film in 3D and relief shown inside the
monument, the visitor can travel through Maison Carrée - © Culturespaces
local history from ancient times to the
present day. Wearing special glasses, the spectator will be thrilled by this
multimedia show where characters leap from the panoramic screen for a voyage
through history.
Jardins de la Fontaine
Set around the spring, the 'cradle' of the
Roman town, the Jardins de la Fontaine
were laid out in the eighteenth century
under Louis XV by J-P Marechal and G.
Dardalhon. The French formal garden is
ornamented with statues and vases in
marble or in white stone from Lens. The top
of the garden (the Mont Cavalier)
dominated by the imposing Tour Magne (an
Jardins de la Fontaine - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
ancient tower) was laid out in the
nineteenth century. Mediterranean species grow here—pine, cypress, ilex, box and
bay— providing green foliage throughout the year.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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The Tour Magne
Visible from far off, it showed the presence of
the city and of the imperial temple located at
the foot of the hill around the spring. It was the
highest and finest tower of the Roman town.
Today, the top storey has disappeared and it
peaks at about 32m. The view of Nîmes from
the top is remarkable.
The Tour Magne - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
Castellum
Castellum - © OT Nîmes J-L Aubert
The Castellum Divisorium is where the famous
aqueduct arrived in Nîmes. It is a very rare
example of a still intact Roman water
distribution tank and, together with the
castellum in Pompeii, Italy, is one of the last
surviving examples of this type of works. From
this circular tank (5.90 m in diameter and 1.40m
deep) set in the rock, lead pipes carried the
water to the monuments, the public fountains
and the different districts of the city.
From the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightenment
Private mansions
Simply walking through the town you can see that,
when it comes to stonework, the people of Nîmes
have always combined past and present. The façades
of many 16th, 17th and 18th-century mansions
featured salvaged Roman pillars and Corinthian
capitals, triangular and circular pediments inspired by
the Temple of Diana, a small romantic temple situated
in the Jardins de la Fontaine that also dates back to
Augustus. You cannot help noticing the re-use of
ancient stonework in more recent buildings in the
heart of Nîmes and the gargoyles and monstrous
figures that seem to come from another period in
time. But in Nîmes, this respect of history has never
been a form of conservatism!
Private mansion - © OT Nîmes I.B.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Contemporary architecture
Carré d’Art
Directly opposite the temple of classical art and designed by the famous architect
Lord Norman Foster, Carré d’Art is a temple of contemporary art. With its sober
glazed façade, this magnificent
building has housed the multimedia library, a sound library, a
media centre and the town’s
Modern Art Museum since 1993.
A contemporary work in the city
centre like the Pompidou Centre
in Paris, it was skilfully designed
to blend into the space around
the Maison Carrée, once the
heart of the Roman Forum.
The museum’s collection totals
almost 370 works and excellent
exhibitions are held to provide a
broad view of contemporary art
from the 1960s to the present
Carré d’Art - © OT Nîmes C.P.
day. It covers movements in the South of France and elsewhere in Europe. Many
well-known contemporary artists have exhibited at Carré d’Art—Olivier Mosset,
Javier Perez, Fiona Rae, Peter Doig, Rebecca Horm, Patrick Van Caeckenbergh,
Markus Raets and many others.
Visitors can also see several contemporary works when they just stroll around the
city. This 'scattered gallery' includes works by Takis, Martial Raysse, Bernard Pagès,
Philippe Favier, Philippe Starck and others.
Place d’Assas
Designed in 1989 by Martial Raysse, the square
features water running from one end to the other
between two monumental heads representing
Nemausa, the spring that gave Nîmes its name, and
Nemausus, the god of this spring.
Place d’Assas - © E. Rykova
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Abribus
Designed by Philippe Stark in 1987 and produced in dark marble, this bus shelter
represents the emblem of the city of Nîmes—a crocodile and a palm tree.
Abribus by Stark - © Mairie de Nîmes
Colisée
The new southern entry to the town is marked by a building in the form of a large
hemisphere designed by Kisho Kurokawa in 1991. The structure is an echo of the
shape of the Roman amphitheatre and consists of offices and housing.
Nemausus
Designed by the highly imaginative architect Jean Nouvel in 1987, this is futuristic
social housing.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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The Art of Good Living
Nîmes—a way of life
A southern town, a blend of Latin and Andalusian,
Nîmes cultivates the art of good living and shares its
pleasures with the visitor in the street and at
mealtimes. The commune covers nearly 40,000
acres, making it one of the largest in France, with a
broad variety of scenery from 'garrigue' (wild, dry
countryside) in the north to the Costières plain in
the south. Being so large, Nîmes has managed to
limit the height of its buildings, thus maintaining a
certain quality of life. A typical feature of Nîmes is
its liveliness, wherever you are in the centre. Shops,
galleries, antique dealers, boutiques and other
interesting features are spread throughout the town
and the visitor can always be sure of a warm
welcome.
The sun shines for 300 days a year and so it is
difficult to resist the appeal of the café terraces in Tour de l’Horloge - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
the squares in the city centre and along the boulevards. The comfortable chairs at
La Grande Bourse opposite the amphitheatre or at Café Carré in the Maison Carrée
square, or Café des Arts near St. Castor's cathedral are much prized places for
watching the world go by. The southern custom of living in the street is part of our
way of life.
To understand this outdoor
culture, visitors can just go
to the corner of the Jardins
de la Fontaine where there
are always people involved in
a ritual that must appear
strange for those who were
not born in the South of
France. In the shade of
mighty trees, 'Le Bosquet' is
the earthly paradise for
players of 'petanque' or
'boules'. Summer and winter,
weather permitting, the little
Players of ‘petanque’ - © OT Nîmes J. Delmarty
park is always the scene of fiercely fought battles between members of different
clubs. Although the best play in the Bosquet, boules is played all over the town!
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Scents and savours
In addition to the pleasant atmosphere of the city, visitors can taste a whole range
of local products and specialities grown or made in the area.
When it comes to the pleasure of eating, Nîmes can hold its own in both quality
and quantity!
Behind
the
facades
redecorated by JeanMichel Wilmotte, Les
Halles de Nîmes (the
covered market) is a
must for visitors who
wish
to
try
local
specialities and flavours.
The superb quality of the
products on display in
the stalls make this
covered
market
the
favourite shopping place
for
people
who
appreciate good food and
Local products - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
for restaurateurs.
Lamb, salt cod, Pelardons (Cévennes goats' cheeses), olives and especially the
famous local 'Picholine' variety, game, Mediterranean fruits and vegetables and so
on. The list would tempt anybody.
Here, visitors can find and taste the 'Brandade de Nîmes', the most famous Nîmes
dish made with salt cod poached in milk and
then whipped to an emulsion with olive oil,
making it a creamy white purée that can be
eaten hot or cold.
Others might prefer tapenade, a typical
regional hors d’oeuvre made with green or
black olives ground with anchovies and
capers and excellent spread on country
bread.
But one cannot leave Nîmes without
enjoying a 'Petit pâté nîmois', a pretty
straw-coloured pastry like a small round box
with a pâté type filling to be eaten warm. In
contrast, savoury 'fougasse' with scraps of
crisp bacon set in it is perfect for eating
cold at any time of the day!
Beside Les Halles, there are numerous little
shops all over the town where the curious
can discover other local delicacies.
Local products - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
Nîmes Tourist Office
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They include the renowned 'Maison Villaret' the oldest bakery Nîmes, the only place
where visitors can find 'Croquants Villaret', delicious local biscuits whose recipe has
not changed since 1775.
We can also mention 'Café Nadal', famous for its oils and coffees or 'l'Huilerie' an
attractive traditional shop with a large range of grains and pulses, tinned products,
sweets and many local goods.
The restaurateurs of Nîmes promote this rich, varied cuisine and use local products
that illustrate the richness of the local cuisine wherever possible. Most dishes are
served with the finest
wines made in the region
such as 'Costières de
Nîmes'.
This
vineyard
covers more than 12,000
hectares south of the city
in the Rhône valley and
the hills adjoining the
delta. Red, rosé or white,
the quality of this AOC
(appellation
d'origine
controlée)
wine
has
improved steadily for the
last twenty years and so
'Costières de Nîmes' is now
on the wine lists of the
best restaurants.
Costières de Nîmes red wine - © OT Nîmes
Local Colour
Antique and second-hand dealers
In Nîmes there are dozens of antique and second-hand dealers. Visitors should have
no trouble discovering furniture from Provence or the Cevennes inland and
fascinating everyday objects, as in the pretty and charming shops Cabinet de
Curiosités or Galérie Béa in the city centre.
Provençal fabrics
Inheriting the textile traditions of Nîmes that
date back to the end of the 17th century,
three manufacturers now produce a broad
range of clothing and household linen with
Provençal patterns. Indiennes de Nîmes
Mistral, Souleïado and Les Olivades delight
visitors with their famous fabrics using all the
colours under the southern sun.
Fabric by Mistral - © O.B.G.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Bulls & Art
Bacon, Schnabel, Combas, Arman and many others—Nîmes has commissioned some
of the world’s great contemporary artists to design posters for the Ferias (fiestas).
These, together with tee-shirts and many different objects such as fans and mugs
are available from the Tourist Office.
Souleïado fabric - © OT Nîmes M.L.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Having Fun in Nîmes
Féria, fiesta and good company
Having fun in Nîmes is second
nature, just like unexpected
parties that just seem to happen!
One of the main entertainments,
the Féria, arouses all sorts of
emotions and leads to a kind of
collective madness.
Held since 1952, the Féria, in true
Spanish
style,
combines
bullfighting, bull running, concerts
and improvised events. Famous
throughout Europe, it is first and Bull-fighting in the amphitheatre - © OT Nîmes JL Aubert
foremost a popular event. Twice a
year, nearly two million visitors pour into the streets of the town. But they are not
all bull-fighting aficionados. Everybody enjoys the excitement, the entertainment
that fills the town and joins the music and dancing. This atmosphere must be
something like the riotous festivals that used to take place in the Middle Ages.
Dozens
of
'bodegas'
(improvised bars) spring
up all over the town and
people gather to drink
Pastis (a local aniseedflavoured drink), sangria
and fino, dry sherry
from Spain.
Nîmes may seem quieter
at other times, but
many other events are
held throughout the
year, including many
summer concerts in the
A ‘bodega’ in Nîmes - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
Amphitheatre, shows at
the theatre and important sports events such as Davis Cup, the World Fencing
Championships etc.
The calendar changes each year and is always more interesting and surprising. See
our website for details. www.ot-nimes.fr
Nîmes Tourist Office
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● Flamenco Festival (10-22 January 2011)
The festival is held by Nîmes theatre and features the
greatest Spanish artistes but also reveals many talented
singers, guitarists and dancers who maintain the tradition
of this andalusian art in the South of France. While most
flamenco shows in France are only interested in performers
from Spain, the Nîmes Flamenco Festival also knows how to
remain in contact with the regional scene with its many
excellent artistes.
Flamenco - © S. Barbier
What not to miss
● Pentecost Féria (8 - 13 June 2011)
● Nîmes Festival (July)
An attractive programme of concerts with
outstanding artists: From 2007 to 2010: Muse,
Tryo, Arcade Fire, Artic Monkeys, Radiohead,
James Blunt, Lenny Kravitz, Mika, Alicia Keys,
Jamiroquai, M, Stevie Wonder, Gossip…
Amphitheatre by night - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
The Roman Games (23-24 April 2011)
Discover the biggest living history event in the
south of France. Roman legionnaires, Celts,
the Imperial Court, auxiliaries, cavalrymen
and war chariots will all be
there for this great celebration of Roman
civilization.
● “Jeudis de Nîmes”: Thursday’s evening markets (July and August)
Each Thursday night during July and
August, craftsmen, painters, secondhand
dealers,
local
producers,
booksellers, collectors… propose a
rendezvous from 6 pm at any of Nimes’
downtown squares. Visitor can enjoy
any of the 87 free shows or concerts
performer throughout the town.
‘Jeudis de Nîmes’ - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
Nîmes Tourist Office
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● ARTéNIM (22-26 September 2011)
One of the best-known contemporary art exhibitions in the region.
With 70 galleries, art publishers and institutions—both well established and
new—ARTéNÎM assembles exhibitors from the whole of France every year and
also an increasing number of professionals from abroad (Canada, South
Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy, etc.).
● Wine Harvest Féria (16-18 September 2011)
● Nîmagine (5 -13 November 2011)
The largest annual event for arts and crafts, professional distributors and
the public. Two hundred craftsmen are selected by a specialised jury for the
quality of their know-how and the originality of the pieces that they make.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Curiosities & Anecdotes
Did you know?
The fascinating story of Denim
Jeans, once the trousers worn by the American
pioneers, are worn by all and sundry today. But
few of those who enjoy wearing jeans know
that the famous cloth was originally from
Nîmes. It was probably in the Middle Ages that
the town’s textile industry began exporting this
cheap, supple and hard-wearing serge all over
Europe. Denim was then used in a number of
ways—for sails, sheeting and trousers, even at
Jeans jacket - © Musée du Vieux Nîmes
that time. Genoese sailors had the denim cloth
dyed indigo, the colour of their 'uniform'. In due
course, some of the cloth was exported to the United States where a Bavarian
immigrant, Levi Strauss, started selling it to those who had 'won the West'. The
word 'denim' comes from Nîmes and 'jeans' from Genoa. What we today know as
blue jeans were born.
The palm tree and the crocodile
To understand the origin of the city’s coat of arms one has to travel to Egypt. In 31
BC, Octavius defeated Anthony and Cleopatra’s fleet at the battle of Actium and
thus ensured Roman control of the Empire. Cesar Augustus was born. A coin was
struck in Nîmes to celebrate the event. One side
featured the profiles of the Emperor and his son-inlaw, the war-time leader Agrippa. The reverse side
bore a crocodile chained to a palm tree surmounted
by a laurel wreath, symbolizing the conquest of Egypt.
The inscription “Col Nem”, the Colony of Nîmes,
suggests that victorious legionaries had been granted
land near Nîmes. But in fact Nîmes was simply the
place where the coin was minted. Over the centuries,
the people of Nîmes became attached to these
relatively common coins. In 1535 they were allowed
by François I to use the palm tree and the crocodile as
the town’s coat of arms and the inhabitants have
been extremely proud of their crest ever since.
Redesigned in 1986, it can be found all over the town,
even in the bronze studs set in the paving of the old
town.
City’s coat of arms - © OT Nîmes J. Delmarty
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Brandade' as made by Durand
If there is one particular traditional recipe from Nîmes, it is 'brandade de morue'
made from salt cod. This used to be delivered by ships that came to Aigues-Mortes
to load salt.
Salt cod has remained popular down the years and today everybody in Nîmes has
their own way of making brandade.
Although there are no set rules, here is the recipe published by the famous chef
Charles Durand in 1830.
“Soak the cod for a couple of day. During
this period, change the water four or five
times. When you are ready to prepare the
dish, blanch the fish in a saucepan. Water
should cover it completely. When you see it
is about to reach the boil, pour in a glass of
cold water, take the saucepan off the heat
and cover it. Drain the cod, remove the ‘Brandade’ - © OT Nîmes L. Martorell
bones and the head, which is always bad.
Put the remains in a saucepan with some lemon juice.
Rotate the saucepan while somebody else pours on the
olive oil which is to bind the fish, drop by drop. When the
mixture has thickened to detach itself from the sides of
the saucepan, while continuing to turn it vigorously, pour
in half a glass of milk or boiling water. The cod will
detach itself from the saucepan. Continue adding olive oil
drop by drop until the mixture has turned into a thick
cream. Mix in several pieces of truffle, some parsley, a
small piece of orange, sage and an anchovy. The last
three must be finely chopped. Cook it all with some oil
for two minutes. You may add some garlic to the recipe if
you like. It is not essential.”
Charles Durand
Bullfighting Museum
Do you know that Nîmes has the first and only
bullfighting museum in France?
Just a stone’s throw from the amphitheatre,
the Bullfighting Museum opened its doors in
May 2002. The museum gives the public a
chance to discover a culture that is still active,
a rich and varied heritage that has survived
since Antiquity. Works of art and everyday
Bullfighter - © OT Nîmes JL Aubert
objects illustrate both regional and
international traditions. Until it is opened on a permanent basis, the Bullfighting
Museum will present temporary exhibitions during the Férias.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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The Perrier Spring
Though many do not know it, the Perrier
spring is only a few kilometres from Nîmes,
in Vergèze. So the famous bubbles sparkle
and represent Nîmes in the glasses of the
whole world!
Perrier factory - © Source Perrier
Pure Gold from Green Olives
The fruit of one of the trees most closely associated with man around the
Mediterranean, olives have been grown for over 6 000 years. For oil, they are
harvested at the beginning of winter when they are fully ripe. Thirteen pounds of
olives is needed to make a litre of virgin olive oil. It is best stored in the dark at a
temperature of 18°C.
‘Picholine’ olives - © CDT du Gard
The adventure began for Nîmes
and its olives in 1996 when a
handful of growers in the region
decided to ask for the awarding
of an AOC (appellation d’origine
contrôlée) for olive oil and
'Picholine' green olives. In 2004,
the Syndicat des Oléiculteurs du
Gard was awarded its AOC for
'L’huile d’olive de Nîmes'. The
appellation was officialised by
the Comité National of INAO on
22 June 2006.
The Daniel or Moulin des Costières olives found in Les Halles de Nîmes are highly
reputed in Nîmes and the region. Visitors will find different olive oils and
associated products in many shops in Nîmes such us Maison Nadal, L’Huilerie and
Oliver & Co.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Around Nîmes
Nîmes, a base for exploring the region
Doubtless as a result of its history, Nîmes is still a place where routes and cultures
meet. Today it is the ideal centre for a wide range of fascinating journeys, a base
camp, a haven from which to go exploring the incredibly varied countryside. All
periods of history and all kinds of scenery are within easy reach.
The Pont du Gard and the Uzège Region
Both tamed and wild, the
landscapes of the “Uzège”
region (the area around
Uzès) consist of dry, wild
'garrigue' and stone villages,
cypresses and vineyards,
reminiscent of Tuscany.
The region is dominated by
the imposing Pont du Gard,
some 30 km from Nîmes.
This is undoubtedly the most
spectacular structure of the
whole
aqueduct
which
conveyed water to the town
Pont du Gard - © Atelier Baie
and is now Unesco World Heritage listed. To cross the Gardon river valley, Roman
engineers built an exceptionally large bridge 275m long and 48m high (the highest
in the Roman world) composed of three levels of arches. Today, in a completely
redesigned 165-hectare site, visitors are invited to understand this exceptional
heritage at various discovery facilities (such as an interactive museum tracing the
story of the Pont du Gard, a film shown on a giant screen, an instructive play area
for children 5-12 years old and several guided visits and a landscape exploration
walk called 'Mémoires de Garrigue').
In addition, several prestigious shows and exhibitions are organised each year in
the heart of this site. Some recent examples: an exhibition of works by Ousmane
Sow, a concert by Laurent Garnier, the Royal Deluxe Theatre Company, aconcert
by Amadou & Mariam and the spectacular “son et lumière” show by Group “F”
each summer.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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The Camargue
In only 45 minutes by car, visitors can reach the
charming Camargue area that houses the superb
Camargue Regional Natural Park, part of the
national biosphere reserve.
A wild area of sea, sand, lagoons and thousands
of birds, with herds of wild horses and bulls.
Even if man has planted grapes and rice and
built a few villages, he lives in the Camargue as
a guest of nature. Don’t miss Aigues-Mortes, a
fortified town built by Louis IX who sailed from Camargue - © OT Nîmes JL Aubert
there for the crusades, and Saint-Gilles and the abbey church whose triple porch is
a masterpiece of southern French Romanesque art.
Provence
With the same rich culture, the same enjoyable lifestyle, basking under the same Mediterranean sun on the
borders of Provence, the towns of Nîmes, Arles and
Avignon form a Golden Triangle where visitors enjoy
everything that they have to offer. Scents of lavender,
savory and honey and the landscapes of Van Gogh and
Cézanne. Frederic Mistral and Alphonse Daudet sang the
praise of Provence. With its traditions and cicadas,
Provence is at the gates of Nîmes and forms part of its
soul. It is impossible to come to Nîmes and the
surrounding area and miss seeing the treasures to be
found in places such as Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, Avignon,
Arles or Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer and Aigues-Mortes.
Landscape in Provence - © AJ Terraoléa
The Cévennes
Grandiose, generous landscapes, chestnut forests, steep gorges and stone houses
set into the land: the Cévennes National Park. Both rugged and protective, this
difficult country has served as a refuge for outcasts during many periods of history
when intolerance was the rule. Visit Sauve,
a medieval village, the potteries where the
famous Anduze jars are made, the
Bambouseraie, the Musée du Désert in
Mialet which traces the history of
Protestantism in the Cévennes. The
Cévennes park is the only inhabitated
national natural park in France and,
together with the Camargue regional natural
park, is part of the national biosphere
Landscape in Cévennes - © OT Nîmes P.S.
reserve.
Nîmes Tourist Office
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Nîmes Tourist Office
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Contacts
NÎMES CONVENTION
AND
VISITORS
BUREAU
6, rue Auguste
F- 30020 Nîmes cedex 1
France
www.ot-nimes.fr
Crocodile’s Fountain by M. Raysse - © E. Rykova
PRESS SERVICE
Tel.: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 25
Fax: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 11
Web site: www.ot-nimes.fr
E-mail: v.allen@ot-nimes.frv.allen@ot-nimes.fr
INCOMING SERVICE
Tel.: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 20/15
Fax: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 19
Web site: www.nimes-groupes.com
E-mail: groupes@ot-nimes.fr
RECEPTION DESK
Tel.: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 00
Fax: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 01
Web site: www.ot-nimes.fr
E-mail: info@ot-nimes.fr
CONVENTION BUREAU
Tel.: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 18
Fax: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 19
Web site: www.nimes-congres.com
E-mail: congres@ot-nimes.fr
MANAGEMENT
Tel.: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 09
Fax: 0033 (0)4 66 58 38 10
E-mail: administration@ot-nimes.fr
Nîmes Tourist Office
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