Nîmes is the prefecture of the Gard department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Cévennes mountain range, the estimated population of the commune of Nîmes stood at 148,561 in 2019.
Dubbed "the most Roman city outside Italy", Nîmes has a rich history dating back to the Roman Empire when the city's population was estimated at approximately 50,000–60,000. Since several famous monuments and ancient Roman buildings are located in Nîmes, including the Arena of Nîmes and the Maison Carrée, the city is often referred to as the "French Rome".
Nîmes is situated where the alluvial plain of the Vistrenque River abuts the hills of Mont Duplan to the northeast, Montaury to the southwest, and to the west Mt. Cavalier and the knoll of Canteduc.
The ancient name Nemausus appears in Gaulish inscriptions as dede matrebo Namausikabo ("he has given to the mothers of Nîmes") and toutios Namausatis ("citizen of Nîmes"). The god Nemausus who shares his name with the city is found also in Latin inscriptions located in the territory of the Volcae Arecomici around Nîmes.
The Neolithic site of Serre Paradis reveals the presence of semi-nomadic cultivators in the period 4000 to 3500 BCE on the site of Nîmes.
The menhir of Courbessac (or La Poudrière) stands in a field, near the aerodrome. This limestone monolith of over 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height dates to approximately 2500 BCE, and is considered the oldest monument in Nîmes.
The Bronze Age has left traces of villages that were made out of huts and branches. The population of the site increased during the Bronze Age.
The hill of Mt. Cavalier was the site of the early oppidum, which gave birth to the city. During the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, a surrounding wall was built with a dry-stone tower at the summit, which was later incorporated into the Tour Magne.
The Greek geographer, Strabo, mentioned that this town functioned as the regional capital for the Volcae Arecomici, a Celtic people. The city adopted the name of a local water deity, Nemausus. The town had a healing spring.
The Warrior of Grezan is considered to be the most ancient indigenous sculpture in southern Gaul.
In 123 BCE, the Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus launched a campaign against Gallic tribes in the area, eventually defeating the Allobroges and the Arverni, while the Volcae offered no resistance. The Roman province Gallia Transalpina ("Gaul across the Alps") was established in 121 BCE, and from 118 BCE, the Via Domitia was constructed through the later site of the city.
The city arose on the important Via Domitia which connected Italy with Hispania.
Nîmes became a Roman colony as Colonia Nemausus sometime before 28 BCE, as witnessed by the earliest coins, which bear the abbreviation NEM. COL. Veterans of Julius Caesar's legions in his Nile campaigns were given plots of land to cultivate on the plain of Nîmes.
Augustus launched a major construction program in the city, as elsewhere throughout the Roman empire. Additionally, he ordered the construction of a 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) long ring of ramparts in the city, reinforced by 14 towers; two gates remain today: the Porte d'Auguste, and the Porte de France. Internally, the city was organized around the cardo and decumanus, intersecting at the forum. The Maison Carrée ("Square House"), an exceptionally well-preserved temple dating from the late 1st century BCE, stands as one of the finest surviving examples of Roman temple architecture. Dedicated to Roma and Augustus, it bears a striking resemblance to Rome's Temple of Portunus, blending Etruscan and Greek design influences.
The Nîmes Aqueduct, many of whose remains can be seen today outside of the city, was built to bring water from the hills to the north. Where it crossed the river Gard between Uzès and Remoulins, the Pont du Gard was built. This is 20 km (12 mi) northeast of the city.
The museum accommodates numerous fine objects discovered during excavations in the city and its surrounding area, including mosaic floors, frescoes and sculpture from wealthy houses and other buildings. Furthermore, it is known that the town had a civil basilica, a curia, a gymnasium, and perhaps a circus. The amphitheatre is very well preserved, dates from the end of the 2nd century, and was one of the largest amphitheatres in the Empire. The so-called Temple of Diana, dating from Augustus and rebuilt in the 2nd century, was actually not a temple but was centred on a nymphaeum located within the Fontaine Sanctuary dedicated to Augustus and may have actually served as a library.
The city was the birthplace of the family of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161).
Emperor Constantine (306-337) endowed the city with baths.