Nîmes, Occitanie France

October 10, 2025

Since we both have colds, we didn't want another long day, so we planned a short day to Nimes in the Occitanie region of France. We walked to Avignon Centre Gare/train station and caught the 11:30 train for Nimes, about 30 min away with some of the time traveling 98mph!  This was not the TGV fast train which is the high speed one!

What a grand welcome when you step out of the Nimes train station you are on a very wide pedestrian boulevard that might be 6 car lanes wide and runs to the central fountain many, many blocks away.  The sun was bright and warm, the large plane trees provided welcome shade and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was positively charming. We had two tourist goals to see briefly today: the Jardin de La Fontaine and Maison Carrée.

 

                      Jardin de La Fontaine                                          Maison Carrée

However, first we stopped for lunch since John hadn't eaten yet today and I'd eaten many hours ago. Using Google, John found U Caffè run by an older couple. Despite having a very large table to serve that had been seated right before us, the waiter was very attentive to us and we were the only people who chose to sit outside on this lovely day.  Keep in mind that there is a lot of smoking in France, so the outside tables can be overwhelming.  I love the French priorities on this menu--3 pages devoted to wines and one to the food. 

Live vicariously with us and imagine our amazing lunch: A mushroom mousse and blond pate (if you want the French, message me) entree, the fish and the beef plat  and penne cotta with strawberry sauce for dessert. 

It was a short walk to Maison Carrée, an ancient Roman Temple built in 1AD and a UNESCO Heritage Site.  It's one of the best preserved "square house" temples of the Roman era and inspired Thomas Jefferson when he designed the Virginia Sate Capital. 

                        Maison Carrée & that's John in red at the top of the stairs on the left

Another very short walk and we were at the Jardin de La Fontaine which is an exceptionally beautiful water and sculpture garden. 

And tucked at the back of the garden is the Temple of Diana, built in the 1st century and may have been a library. Its facade was rebuilt during the 2nd century and in the mediaeval era it housed a monastery, ensuring its survival. It was excavated in 1745 during work to create the garden of La Fontaine.

That's me on the left with the temple to myself in short sleeves, it was 77 degrees.    We'd return to Nimes for a longer visit!