If you are staying at our Les Cascades campsite in La Roque-sur-Cèze, make sure you visit Nîmes, the administrative seat of the Gard department and one of the finest cities in the Occitanian region.
Capital of the Gard department, strategically placed on the antique Via Domitia, Nîmes is known the world over for its Roman history. Numerous vestiges that have weathered the centuries bear witness to this heritage, including the Arena of Nîmes, the Maison Carrée and the Magne Tower.
Annual events such as the Roman Days of Nîmes in May will immerse you in this epic era. Shows, gladiator fights and ancient markets are recreated in the amphitheatre and old town. If you have a keen interest in history, a trip to the Musée de la Romanité is a must. Inside this curiously contemporary building, you can admire the collection of Roman objects unearthed over the centuries.
Nîmes is also a very vibrant, festive city. We’ve already mentioned the Roman Days but the town is above all famous for its Pentecostal Feria and the Wine Harvest Feria, in May and October. These great local festivals honour the tradition of bullfighting with parades, Camargue bull races, manade (cattle herd) parades and bullfights in the amphitheatre, and so on. Not to mention the many concerts in the city centre.
In midsummer, you’re also in for a treat with the Festival of Nîmes. This music festival hosts national and international acts such as Mika, Gorillaz and Angèle. Then there are the Thursdays in Nîmes with an array of festive entertainment and markets with local farmers, craftspeople and second-hand dealers.
If you’re more into sport than music, Nîmes is the home of several major sports events, including football, handball and rugby matches.
And last but not least, nearby there is the Pont du Gard with its unmissable night-time light-and-sound shows featuring this amazing three-level Roman aqueduct.