Nîmes

Nîmes is a Roman city in the Gard department of Occitanie, about 45 km west of Avignon, with some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in France. The TER train from Avignon-Centre takes about 30 to 40 minutes and costs roughly EUR 8-12 (~$9-14), with several trains per hour at peak times; drivers pay around EUR 1.5-2 per hour to park. The station is a short walk from the historic centre, so the day works well by train. The morning starts at the Arènes de Nîmes on Boulevard des Arènes, a first-century amphitheatre still used for bullfights and concerts, which can be toured with an audio guide. A few minutes away the Maison Carrée, a Roman temple on the Place de la Comédie side of the centre, is among the best-preserved in the world, and nearby the Carré d'Art contemporary art museum faces it across the square. Lunch fits in the old town, with brasseries and cafés on the squares and local dishes such as brandade de morue. The afternoon moves to the Jardins de la Fontaine, an 18th-century garden built around a Roman spring and sanctuary, and the walk up to the Tour Magne, a Roman tower on Mont Cavalier with a view over the city and the Garrigue hills. The route is mostly flat apart from the hill climb, and a day usually involves two to three hours of walking. Monuments can be covered with a combined pass, which is cheaper than separate tickets. The best seasons are April to June and September to October, when temperatures are comfortable; summer is hot and arena events can affect access and hours, particularly during the Féria in spring. Trains back to Avignon run into the evening, but the last departure should be checked. Nîmes also combines with the Pont du Gard, the aqueduct that once supplied the city, for a longer day by car.