Library Item

La Fontaine, Nimes

1881

Nimes is situated near the Mediterranean Sea in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France. The city has a very long and rich history due to its heritage from the Roman Empire. The Romans settled here when they were constructing the Via Domitia road between Spain and Rome and Nîmes is well-known for several remains of the Roman Empire including the arenes de Nîmes, a 440 by 330 ft ellipse, known as the amphitheatre which stands 69 ft high.

The amphitheatre is built of large stones from a nearby quarry. Its initial use was for naval spectacles, chariot races, and gladiatorial shows. It was later used by the Visigoths in the 5th century as a fortress. It is one of the best preserved amphitheatres from Roman times.