From Les Baux and Glanum we headed to the nearby city of Nimes, a place rich in Roman history. Nîmes became a Roman colony sometime before 28 BC. It had become a glorious city of 60,000 at the time of Emperor Augustus, at which time a grand aqueduct was built to bring water to the city. This amphitheatre was first built sometime around 70 AD, and could seat 30,000.

Arènes de Nîmes It is the best preserved Roman amphitheatre in the world. They began using it as a bullring in the 1860s.  It is still used for events today from concerts to bullfights.

Arènes de Nîmes

This approximately anatomically-correct statue honors a famous french matodor.Arènes de Nîmes Arènes de Nîmes

What a setting to grab some food.

Arènes de Nîmes Lindsay likes it. The view from the interior.

Arènes de Nîmes

Arènes de Nîmes

I love the interior stone corridors and arches. This is perhaps my favorite shot from the whole trip:

Arènes de Nîmes

Arènes de Nîmes

Arènes de Nîmes

Arènes de Nîmes

The Maison Carrée is one of the best preserved Roman Temples to be found anywhere in the territory of the former Roman empire, and it sits in the middle of a plaza in Nimes, surrounded by cafés and shops.

Maison Carrée, Nîmes We did grab a drink on one of the plazas near the arena, and Lindsay claims this was the best cup of hot chocolate of her life.

We had a great time in our short visit to Nimes, and would have loved to spend a few days there to explore.