Roman Towns of Nimes and Arles
There are two very pretty Roman towns in the south of France: Nimes and Arles. With Ryanair flies direct from London, Nimes Airport is very easy to reach. Nimes is a historic city with very impressive Roman remains such as a Roman amphitheatre, a Roman temple, and a Roman tower.
![Arena of Nîmes](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nimes-Amphitheatre-595x444.jpg)
![Maison Carrée](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Maison-Carrée-595x444.jpg)
![Nimes city centre](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nimes-City-Centre-595x444.jpg)
One certainly cannot imagine living close to the amphitheatre. Here in AD 70 when the Amphitheatre was built. Not quite sure who was the Emperor who ordered to build this magnificent arena.
![Nimes Roman Amphitheatre](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nimes-Roman-Amphitheatre-595x444.jpg)
They called it a perfect example of Roman engineering as it requires precision to construct such a man-made building.
![Nimes Roman Amphitheater](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nimes-Roman-Amphitheater-595x444.jpg)
![Nimes amphitheatre at night](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nimes-amphitheatre-at-night-595x444.jpg)
When I was there (sadly) I watched a glimpse of bull-fighting. Where the protesters were (on another day) gathered outside.
![Bull fight in Nimes](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bull-fight-in-Nimes-595x444.jpg)
![Bull-fight protest](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bull-fight-protest-595x444.jpg)
Nimes also has a pretty fountain park where it is called Les Jardins de la Fontaine.
![Les Jardins de la Fontaine](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Les-Jardins-de-la-Fontaine-595x444.jpg)
![Jardins de la Fontaine](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Jardins-de-la-Fontaine-595x444.jpg)
It is quite in a grand scale as it is huge!
![Quite huge Jardins de la Fontaine in Nimes](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Quite-huge-Jardins-de-la-Fontaine-in-Nimes-595x444.jpg)
Part of Jardine:
![Jardins de la Fontaine](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nimes-Jardins-de-la-Fontaine-595x444.jpg)
Below is the view of the entire Nimes city from Tour Magne (a Roman Tower).
![View from Tour Magne](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/View-from-Tour-Magne-595x444.jpg)
The typical french crepes:
![French crepes](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/French-crepes-595x444.jpg)
You also never fall short of Italian food:
![Penne amatriciana](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Penne-amatriciana-595x798.jpg)
![Italian food in France](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Italian-food-in-France-595x444.jpg)
![Served in French bread](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/French-bread-595x798.jpg)
There are also some very pretty French churches:
![Beautiful Catholic Church in Nimes](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Beautiful-Catholic-Church-in-Nimes-595x798.jpg)
![Beautiful church in Nimes](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Beautiful-church-in-Nimes-595x444.jpg)
A large square in the City Centre:
![Open square in Nimes](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Open-square-in-Nimes-595x444.jpg)
Not far from Nimes, about an hour train journey, there is an impressive Roman city of Arles.
![Arles Roman Villa](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-Roman-Villa-595x444.jpg)
The Arles Roman amphitheatre is located bang in the middle of the city. It is in quite a residential area.
![Arles Roman Amphitheatre](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-Roman-Amphitheatre-595x444.jpg)
Can you imagine if you live just next door to the amphitheatre?
![Impressive Arles amphitheatre](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Impressive-Arles-amphitheatre-595x444.jpg)
![Architecture of Arles amphitheatre](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Architecture-of-Arles-amphitheatre-595x444.jpg)
![Arles amphitheatre](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-amphitheatre-595x444.jpg)
![Roman Amphitheatre in Arles](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Roman-Amphitheatre-in-Arles-595x444.jpg)
![View from Amphitheatre arch](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/View-from-Aphotheatre-arch-595x798.jpg)
![Arles Arch Amphitheater](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-Arch-Amphitheater-595x798.jpg)
![Roman City of Arles](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Roman-City-of-Arles-595x444.jpg)
![Arles Roman ticket](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-Roman-ticket-595x444.jpg)
![Arles Roman bath](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-Roman-bath-595x444.jpg)
![Place du Forum in Arles](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Place-du-Forum-in-Arles-595x798.jpg)
![Latin inscription](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Latin-inscription-595x798.jpg)
![River Rhône](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/River-Rhône-595x444.jpg)
There is also a stunning Roman theatre:
![Arles Theatre](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-Theatre-595x444.jpg)
![Arles Roman Theater](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arles-Roman-Theater-595x444.jpg)
I found a delicious place to eat in Arles. I think this is in one of the restaurants in Place du Forum, apparently it served chow mein.
![Yummy Noodle in Arles](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Yummy-Noodle-in-Arles-595x444.jpg)
![Catedral St Trophime in Arles](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Catedral-St-Trophime-in-Arles-595x798.jpg)