Maison Carrée
A Roman temple built around 16 BC. It is one of the most completely preserved ancient Roman temples in the world and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
The Maison Carrée was dedicated to the two grandsons of Augustus, Gaius and Lucius Caesar. Its colonnades, pediment, and Corinthian capitals are nearly intact, and it inspired Thomas Jefferson's design of the Virginia State Capitol. Inside, a roughly 20-minute film about the history of Nîmes is shown. Admission costs about €7. Opposite is the modern Carré d'Art by Norman Foster, whose top-floor restaurant overlooks the temple. A 10-minute walk away are the 18th-century Fountain Gardens and the Tour Magne. Open roughly 9:30 to 18:30, with shorter hours in winter.
Opening hours
About 09:30–18:30 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Arena of Nîmes
- Uzès
- Pont du Gard
- Château de Tarascon
- Arles
- Camargue (Pont de Gau Ornithological Park)
- Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
- Les Baux-de-Provence