A slight change of plans...
Today we were meant to visit the preserved villages of St Guilhem le Desert but on arrival found that the shuttle bus that takes visitors from the coach park wasn't operating this weekend and as coaches are not allowed into this heritage settlement some quick thinking was needed. We decided to swap it with Monday's programme so we set off for the Roman town of Nimes.
Nimes is a thriving town of high class shops, businesses and schools that has world class Roman monuments. Today Nimes is officially in the Languedoc-Roussillon region but historically the town has been a key player in the evolution of Provence. While travellers to France often make time for Arles and Avignon, Nimes is often ignored. However of the three cities Nimes seems more confident and richer, keeping its peaceful, pedestrian -polished streets a secret for its residents. For the past thousand years, the towns people have made good use of one of their biggest assets, the ancient Roman temple called Maison Carree. The temple rivals Rome's Pantheon as the most complete building that survives from the Roman Empire.
Smaller, scattered remains of Roman Nimes testify to its former importance as the city of administration and commerce for Galacia. However the list of Nimes' Roman remains would not be complete without mentioning the imposing Pont du Gard one of the finest Roman aqueducts ten miles to the northeast of the city. The river was just beautiful with many people swimming, canoeing or just soaking up the warmth of the sunshine. It was a magnificent site.
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