Provence & the French Riviera - Discover France: Experience the Best of France - page 651

(adult/child incl audioguide €7.80/4.50; 9am-6.30pm) Nîmes' magnificent Ro-
man amphitheatre is the best preserved in the whole of the Roman Empire. It was
built around AD 100 to seat 24,000 spectators. The arena hosted animal fights to
the death, stag hunts, man against lion or bear confrontations and, of course, gladi-
atorial combats. In the contemporary arena it's only the bulls that get killed.
There's a mock-up of the gladiators' quarters and, if you time it right, you'll see a
couple of actors in full combat gear slugging it out in the arena.

MAISON CARRÉE
(Square House; place de la Maison Carrée; adult/child €4.50/3.70; 10am-6.30pm)
The Maison Carrée is a remarkably well preserved rectangular Roman temple, con-
structed around AD 5 to honour Emperor Augustus' two adopted sons. Within, a
22-minute 3D film, Héros de Nîmes , is screened every half-hour.

Roman Temple

JARDINS DE LA FONTAINE
Nîmes' other major Roman monuments enrich the elegant Jardins de la Fontaine
(Fountain Gardens). The Source de la Fontaine was the site of a spring, temple
and baths in Roman times. The remains of the Temple de Diane are in the lower
northwest corner.
A 10-minute uphill walk brings you to the crumbling shell of the 30m-high Tour
Magne (adult/child €2.70/2.30; 9.30am-6.30pm) , raised around 15 BC. Built as
a display of imperial power, it's the largest of a chain of towers that once punctuated
the city's 7km-long Roman ramparts.

Roman Remains