Nīmes (Provenēal Occitan: Nimes in both classical and Mistralian norms) is a city and commune of southern France, préfecture (capital) of the Gard département.

The city derives its name from Nemausus 'From The Source'. The contemporary symbol and shield of the city of Nīmes, a crocodile chained to a palm tree with the inscription 'COLNEM' or abbreviation of 'Colonia Nemausus', is a reference to the colony of Roman legions veterans in Caesar's Nile campaigns. At the end of fifteen years of soldiering, the veterans were given plots of land to cultivate on the plain of Nīmes.


Nīmes may have been one of the richest and finest Roman cities of Gaule. Several important remains of the Roman Empire can still be seen in and around Nīmes:

The elliptical Roman amphitheatre, of the 1st or 2nd century AD, is the best-preserved Roman arena in France. It was filled with medieval housing, when its walls served as ramparts, but they were cleared under Napoleon. It is still used today as a bull fighting and concert arena.

The Maison Carrée (Square House), a small Roman temple dedicated to sons of Agrippa was built c. 19 BC. It is one of the best-preserved Roman temples anywhere.

The 18th-century Jardins de la Fontaine (Gardens of the Fountain)

The nearby Pont du Gard, also built by Agrippa, is a well-preserved aqueduct that used to carry water across the small Gardon river valley.