Roman Sites in Provence – Tour from Avignon

Make your way to the designated meeting point. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide, you will be taken to the Roman sites of Provence.

You will visit the following places:

• Nimes: It is a city in southern France with a rich history dating back to the Roman Empire. Visit the Amphitheatre (entrance included) built at the end of the 1st century. Its façade is 21 metres high and consists of 2 levels of 60 arches each. The Amphitheatre could accommodate 20,000 spectators to watch the fights of the gladiators and hunting. Further on, proceed to Maison Carree, one of the best preserved temples in the Roman world, built around 19th to 16th century BC. It was ordered to be constructed by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, who was also the original patron of the Pantheon in Rome. The Maison Carrée is a great example of Vitruvian architecture in its most classical mode.

• Uzes: It is a charming medieval city, about 32 kilometres north of Nimes. Visit the Place aux Herbes, a picturesque square shaded by trees and adorned by a fountain All around the square you will come across medieval houses and arcades. See the episcopal palace, the ducal palace, the Fenestrelle tower (a unique bell tower) and the cathedral. Outside of Uzes is the catchment area of the Roman aqueduct that brought spring water to Nimes.

• Pont du Gard: The Pont du Gard is a beautiful 2000 year-old Roman aqueduct that until recently supplied over 40 million gallons of water daily to the city of Nimes. Surprisingly, this gigantic stone structure has no mortar – the stones are made to fit together in a rather seamless fashion and using the arches the weight supports itself. The monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After exploring the Roman archaeological sites, your tour ends at the starting point.