Nimes Hotels

Nīmes is a city with about 137,000 citizens in the Departement Gard. It has a stunning Roman Coliseum that is second only to Rome's. There are a few other fine Roman relics and Diana's Palace. Plough your way through the bleak, traffic-clogged outskirts of Nīmes to reach its true heart, still beating there where the Romans established their town more than two millennia ago. Here, you'll find some of France's best-preserved classical buildings, together with some stunning modern constructions as the city continues its centuries-old rivalry with Montpellier, just down the autoroute. The city's other less obvious claim to fame is sartorial. During the 1849 Californian gold rush, one Levi Strauss was making trousers for miners. Looking for a tough, hardwearing fabric, he began importing the traditionally blue serge de Nīmes, nowadays known as denim. Nīmes is at the heart of a region steeped in the traditions of the Camargue to the south and the Cévennes hills to the north. Whether you are a lover of the arts, nature, the mountains, the sea, ‘farniente' or activities, there is something to suit all tastes in and around Nīmes. There is a wealth of rich and varied resources around the town, with the town centre an inviting and relaxing ambience for the evenings.