Page 218 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

216 BACK ROADS FRANCE

1 Pont du Gard aqueduct originally carried water
Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon; 30210 50 km (30 miles) from the springs at
The first sight of the 2,000-year-old Uzès to Nîmes, some times through
Pont du Gard, near the village of under ground channels dug out of
Remoulins, is astonishing. A stu- solid rock. The Visitor Centre on the
pendous feat of engineering still Rive Gauche offers guided walks
unsurpassed, it has resisted both across the bridge and has a museum
tampering and the erosion of time (open daily) detailing its his tory. In the
and floods. The three great storeys summer, canoes can be hired to
of golden lime stone arches span explore the river around the bridge.
the Gardon river to a height of 49 m ª Drive to Nîmes on the D6086,
(160 ft). Built from enormous blocks following directions to “Centre Ville”
of stone hauled into place by slaves and the “Office du Tourisme”, and then
using pulleys and wheels, the park on Boulevard Jean-Jaurès.

2 Nîmes
Above Three-tiered Pont du Gard, a Roman Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon; 30000
engineering marvel Below left Massive stone The ancient city of Nîmes has been a crossroads since Roman times,
columns of Les Arènes, Nîmes Below right and is renowned for its Roman antiquities, especially its magnificent
Imposing and historic Maison Carré, Nîmes amphitheatre. At its heart is a medieval warren of streets full of shops
and lively cafés. Recently, imaginative architectural projects, particu-
VISITING THE PONT DU GARD larly the glittering arts museum oppo site Nîmes’ celebrated Roman
temple, have pulled the city into the future. This colourful southern
Tourist Information city is vibrant with outdoor life, most of all during its famous féria.
www.ot-pontdugard.com
Parking
There are paid car parks on both banks A two-hour walking tour the city from the Quai de la Fontaine,
of the Gardon. For the Rive Gauche, From the car park, walk up Boulevard turn ing right along Boulevard
take the D19; for the Rive Droite (right Jean-Jaurès to the Jardins de la Alphonse Daudet, to find the Maison
bank), turn off from the D981. Fontaine 1 (open daily). These 18th- Carré 3 (open daily except public
century formal gardens were con- holidays), a beautiful, symmetrical
WHERE TO STAY struc ted around a spring discov ered Roman temple from the 1st century
by the Romans, now a network of BC. It has a great flight of stone steps
NÎMES pools, stone terraces and marble lead ing to finely fluted Corinthian
nymphs and cupids. Among the columns. The museum of contempo-
Le Royal Hotel moderate
This arty small hotel has a popular chestnut trees is the ruined Temple rary art, the Carré d’Art 4 (closed
tapas bar and a huge dining terrace. de Diane 2, a Roman fragment Mon), designed by British archi tect
3 boulevard Alphonse Daudet, 30020; whose orig inal purpose remains a Norman Foster, is a glass and steel
04 66 58 28 27; www.royalhotel-
nimes.com mystery. High on Mont Cavalier reflection of the Maison Carré oppo-
above the garden is the octagonal site, a modern temple com plete with
La Magne moderate ruin of the Tour Magne (open daily), steps and columns. A huge atrium
Rooms are well decorated and there is
a swimming pool in the garden. once a key com ponent of the origi- incor porates a library and art galleries
296d Impasse des Troénes, 30900; 04 66 nal Roman walls and now a fine place focusing on modern French art and
23 70 86; www.chambres-la-magne.com for an overview of Nîmes. Head into Mediterranean artists. Pause in the