THE ROMAN CITY
Nimes can be considered as one of the most prestigious cities of the roman Gaule. It was colonized at the beginning of the year 40 B.C. since the city was situated on the "via Domitia", ancient route of Hercules between Rome and Spain where the empire gets its precious stones.
The Romans worship Nemausus, god of the Source and guiding spirit of the Fountain who gave his name to the city. It is the Emperor Auguste who will develop its prosperity and monumental riches.
Its emblem is a crocodile attached to a palm tree, symbol of the colonization of Egypt by the Romans.
The city developed similar to Urbs, which was a model for the Roman cities:
- a surrounding wall of 7km
- the Maison carrée in honour of the adoptive son of Auguste
- the temple of Diana
- a theatre
- the Arena
A huge aqueduct of 50km supplied water to Uze, overpassing the Gardon by one of the most beautiful vestiges still intact : the Pont du Gard.

THE PROTESTANT CITY
The period of reform will mark the city of Nimes by the development of protestantism. The nobles and bourgeoisie will convert to this new doctrine and will undergo the violence of massacres, combats and religious wars. The dismissal of the "Edit de Nantes" in 1685 which deprived the protestants of the right to worship will be the source of these troubles.
This era will mark the beginning of the construction of magnificent private mansions, decorated by the rich families of the Bourgeoisie.

THE DENIM MATERIAL
Sorry not!! The jean material which represents rugged America does not originate from the United States but from Nimes. The "Nimois" manufacturers used to fabricate a cloth with egyptian cotton which was used to make capes and skirts for the shepherds of the Cevennes. Levi-Strauss in 1848 got the idea to make clothes out of this material for the pionneers and gold diggers. The legend of the Jean was born!