There are many Roman remains in the Provence region. Gaul was the name of France when it was a province of Rome because yes, we have not always been as fiercely independent as we are today (apart from the small village where Asterix lived, obviously). Roman remains
The Romans did not pass by, they stayed for more than 500 years and left in France all sorts of Roman remains: amphorae, mosaics, aqueducts and bridges, but also some questionable habits and Latin, the basis of our language.
When the Romans arrived, they found – rather than the baguettes or cafes they might have expected – a mixture of warrior and druid-worshipping Celtic tribes, whom they of course decided to invade and subjugate.
Provence is one of the French regions with the most monuments dating from antiquity. In fact, it has inherited a rich and best-preserved heritage. Moreover, the name “Provence” comes from the name given by the Romans to this region: “Provincia Romana”.Roman remains
Top 5 ancient monuments of Nîmes and other Roman places!
Here is our selection of the 5 most beautiful monuments to see absolutely with Planetazur!
1. The Maison Carrée in Nîmes, an immortal masterpiece
Everyone agrees that among the Roman remains, the best preserved Roman temple is not in Italy, but in the south of France.
Known as the Maison Carrée, this exemplary Roman temple stands on what was once the forum of Nîmes.
Construction of the temple began around 16 BC or slightly earlier, at the very beginning of the Pax Augusta or “Augustan Peace.” Rome’s first emperor, Augustus (r. 27 BC – AD 14), established a permanent peace after decades of civil war, an event celebrated, among other places, in Virgil’s Aeneid.roman ruins
This is an ancient Roman temple located in Nîmes, in southern France. It was built by the Roman statesman and general, Marcus Agrippa, as a dedication to his sons. The temple is composed of Corinthian columns in the main entrance and attached columns all around the structure.
For just €8, you will have access to the entire Maison Carrée.
2. The ancient city of Glanum, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
In a different atmosphere, you will discover the ancient city of Glanum discovered in 1921 and remained underground for 17 centuries. This ancient fortified city was originally built by the Salyes in the 6th century BC, but later relations with the Greek world during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC added Hellenistic styles to the city.Roman remains
During the early years of the reign of Emperor Augustus, around 27 BC, Glanum officially became a Roman colony. This led to a rapid transformation of the city’s architecture, including a new forum, temples, a dam and an aqueduct, which supplied the city with water and public baths.
Unfortunately, Glanum did not survive the collapse of the Roman Empire around 260 AD. The city was then abandoned by its inhabitants. However, you will find here the two best preserved monuments of the archaeological site, namely the triumphal arch and the Mausoleum of Juili (around 30 BC).Roman remains
3. The best preserved ancient theatre of Orange!
The Roman theatre of ancient Arausio (now Orange, in the south of France) is one of the best preserved examples of antiquity. Built in the 1st century AD, it could accommodate 9,000 spectators and is dominated by its massive stage wall and its façade decorated with columns, doors and niches. The theatre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 AD.Roman remains
The theatre was built in the late 1st century AD using local yellow and white limestone, with the stands built into the side of the hill of Saint-Eutrope. The stone stands had three levels of 20, 9 and 5 rows of seats, giving the theatre a capacity of approximately 9,000 spectators.
Each tier had its own doors and entrance tunnel, and spectators could not move from one tier to the other once inside the theater. The seats in the first three rows were reserved for VIPs such as city councilors, and some still have inscriptions on them. Although they have been restored, some of the original seats are still in place in the upper sections, on either side of the stage.
You will have the opportunity to take a virtual reality tour of the theater. For €10, you will be able to observe the progress of the construction of the ancient theater as if you were an ancient Roman!
4. The spectacular Arena of Nîmes, just like a Colosseum in France!
The Arena of Nîmes can be considered one of the best proofs of Rome’s advanced engineering. The construction and complex architecture of the amphitheater are a true marvel of the perfection of ancient engineering.
This arena is located in the French city of Nîmes, in the Languedoc-Rousillon region, in the Gard department, and was built around the year 70. It is the pride of the people of Nîmes and a monument that any lover of Roman history must see.
The monument was remodeled and restored to its magnificent state in 1863 and since then it has been used for bullfights, concerts and various other public events. The building, which can now accommodate 16,300 spectators, has a comfortable heating system and a movable roof, which can be covered when necessary, usually in winter.
Surrounded by a beautiful attic and around sixty arcades on two floors, this 21-metre-high monument is the best-preserved Roman arena in the world. Roughly elliptical in shape, it measures 133 m long and 101 m wide.
If you want to visit the Maison Carrée, you shouldn’t miss the Nîmes Arena!
5. The Pont Julien and its three perfectly preserved arches!
Named after the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, this beautiful three-arched stone bridge is one of the few Roman bridges still existing in Provence.
It is the only bridge that remains on the Via Domitia, the first Roman road that connected northern Italy to Spain through conquered Gaul (now southern France). This road bridge has allowed traffic over the Calavon River for over 2,000 years, which is a testament to the extraordinary expertise of Roman masons.
Built during the 1st century BC (probably between 45 and 27 BC, around the time of the founding of the nearby town of Apt), the Pont Julien is made of limestone blocks extracted from the nearby Luberon mountains. It has three perfectly semi-circular arches, the central one being slightly larger than the other two, so that the two pillars can rest on solid foundations.
Two small openings have been dug into the pillars to relieve pressure and prevent the bridge from being overturned when the river rises, which is hard to imagine given the small trickle of water in which the Calavon has dried up.
Not to be missed!
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