Little did I know about the Roman Empire encroachment in France until I witnessed some of their best preserved monuments here at Nimes, in the heart of Provence. Provence, which is famous for its Lavender fields, is located at the south-east part of the country. In this Roman city of Nimes, it is home for one of the best preserved Roman Amphitheater in the world - The Arena of Nimes.
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| The Arena of Nimes |
Built at the end of the 1st century AD, this monument was listed as the World Heritage Monument since 1840. I have seen one which is similar in size and shape located in Verona, Italy as mentioned in my earlier postings, but this one is definitely the winner!! Extremely well-preserved, the Arena could seat up to 24,000 crowd in its 34 terraces.
Other Roman attractions can be found in Nimes include Maison Carree temple and Magne Tower.
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| The Arena of Nimes |
Another significant Unesco World Heritage Monument that can be found near Nimes is Pont du Gard. This Roman Aqueduct stands at 50 m above ground, it was constructed around 19 BC to carry water to the City of Nimes.above the Gard River.
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| Pont du Gard |
With 3 tiers of arches, the aqueduct is a true Roman Engineering marvel that can be seen to this day. Having seen one in Segovia, Spain, there is no doubt that the later is by far much more stunning and best preserved Roman Aqueduct around.....
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| Pont du Gard |
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