Nîmes

Nîmes, city in Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France, capital of the Gard Department, on a plain in the Cévennes range. It is an agricultural and manufacturing centre; products include textiles, clothing, processed food, brandy, footwear, machinery, and chemicals. The city is known for its many well-preserved Roman remains. These include a large arena dating from the 1st century ad, which is still in use; the Maison-Carrée (1st century ad), built in the Greek style as a temple and now housing a museum of Roman sculpture; and a 2nd century ad temple of Diana. Near the city are the Tour Magne, probably built in the 1st century bc, and the Pont du Gard (19 bc), a famous Roman aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Also of note are the cathedral of St Castor (begun 11th century) and museums of archaeology, fine art, and local history.

Once a Gallic settlement, Nîmes was annexed by the Romans in 121 bc and, as Nemausus, became a prosperous commercial settlement. Damaged by the Visigoths in the 5th century ad, the city passed to the counts of Toulouse in the 10th century and to the French Crown in the 13th century. Nîmes was a stronghold of Protestantism during the Reformation. After a period of decline, it developed as a thriving economic centre in the 19th century. Population 143,000 (2005 estimate).