← Marathon de Montpellier·Day trip

Nîmes: A Roman Day Out

A Roman amphitheatre still in use, a temple that has stood intact for two thousand years and an 18th-century garden, all within a short, flat walk of Nîmes station.

DurationDay trip
TransitTER regional train, about 35 to 45 minutes from Montpellier Saint-Roch
DepartsMontpellier Saint-Roch

After the Marathon de Montpellier: Nîmes

The Route: Montpellier Saint-Roch → Nîmes → Montpellier Saint-Roch Logistics: Regional TER trains, about 35 to 45 minutes depending on stops, run through the day. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Montpellier Saint-Roch ──(TER, ≈35-45 min)──> Nîmes
          ▲                                     │
          └──────────(TER, ≈35-45 min)──────────┘

Nîmes, the next city up the line from Montpellier, is one of the best places in France to see Roman buildings, and most of them are close together in a compact, largely flat centre. That makes it a good day out on legs that ran a marathon the day before: short walks, plenty of places to sit, and a museum for the afternoon.

The Arena

A short walk from the station, the Arènes de Nîmes is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres anywhere, built in the first century and still used for concerts and events. Visitors can walk the passages and the tiers of seats. There are stairs, so take them slowly.

The Maison Carrée and the Old Town

A little further on, the Maison Carrée is a Roman temple that has survived almost complete. Opposite it, Norman Foster's Carré d'Art, a glass and steel arts centre, makes a striking contrast. The old town streets between the two are pedestrianised and easy to wander.

Les Jardins de la Fontaine

The Jardins de la Fontaine, laid out in the 18th century around the spring that the Roman city grew up around, are a flat, shady place to rest. The Tour Magne, a Roman tower, stands on the hill above them, but the climb is best saved for another visit.

Getting Back

Trains back to Montpellier Saint-Roch run through the evening. Check the last departure at sncf-connect.com before settling in for dinner.