December, 2013 – Graham Miln

Nîmes

Nîmes is a pretty destination. We visited with friends during the summer. It was the first stop as part of a short tour around Avignon.

Nîmes has invested heavily in renovating its central streets. Exiting the train station leads to a gleaming white stone boulevard. Car free and with a raised channel of water running down one side, the boulevard leads to the central square of the town. At night the channel of water is illuminated with slowly changing coloured lights.

Boulevard connecting the train station to the central square
Boulevard connecting the train station to the central square

Submerged colour shifting lights
Submerged colour shifting lights

A circle of small builds surround the central square
A circle of small builds surround the central square

Fountain in the central square
Fountain in the central square

Arches within Nîmes train station
Arches within Nîmes train station

Like many of the towns around Avignon, Nîmes can boast of a selection of Roman buildings including a coliseum. Monuments and gardens from later periods are also dotted around the town. There is more than enough to do to fill a few days of sightseeing.

Formally a Roman temple and now a cinema
Formally a Roman temple and now a cinema

Top of a maintained Roman column
Top of a maintained Roman column

Corner of a maintained Roman temple
Corner of a maintained Roman temple

Panorama of the coliseum

Panorama inside the coliseum
Panorama inside the coliseum

Inside the coliseum
Inside the coliseum

Looking across the coliseum
Looking across the coliseum

The coliseum is illuminated at night
The coliseum is illuminated at night

There has clearly been an effort to revamp the tourist center of the town. The improvements still look new and shiny. Sharply contrasting to this impression was the sight of a man being hauled away by four members of the police. We saw the event take place one evening as we headed back to our hotel. Each officer held a different limb as they carried the man to their van. Onlookers, presumably friends of the detained man, cried out but did nothing more to provoke the police. I did not see what triggered the police response but it was a stark reminder that surface impressions are just that.

Sun beats down on the pavement below
Sun beats down on the pavement below

Roofs designed for warmer weather
Roofs designed for warmer weather

A clock and statue made for a different era
A clock and statue made for a different era

Nîmes symbol on top of a metal pole
Nîmes symbol on top of a metal pole

Ceiling inside the town hall
Ceiling inside the town hall

Window and flower pots
Window and flower pots

Fountain carved as a female face
Fountain carved as a female face

Canal of water leading to a fountain and gardens
Canal of water leading to a fountain and gardens

Formal gardens
Formal gardens

Once part of the town walls this tower provides a look out over Nîmes
Once part of the town walls this tower provides a look out over Nîmes

Inside the town walls tower
Inside the town walls tower

Typical breakfast fare
Typical breakfast fare

A stall within the covered markets
A stall within the covered markets

Snails of the sea
Snails of the sea

Inside the covered markets
Inside the covered markets