Musée de la Romanité

Nîmes


Opened in mid-2018, this futuristic steel-and-glass structure faces Les Arènes right in the heart of the city. Within, the ambitious archaeological museum’s permanent exhibitions are devoted to regional archaeology, with more than 5000 artefacts including well-preserved mosaics and ceramics.

Designed by French architect Elizabeth de Portzamparc, the building’s undulating façade has fast become one of Nimes' iconic landmarks.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nîmes attractions

1. Les Arènes

0.06 MILES

Nîmes’ twin-tiered amphitheatre is the best preserved in France. Built around 100 BC, the arena once seated 24,000 spectators and staged gladiatorial…

2. Musée des Beaux-Arts

0.15 MILES

The city’s fine-arts museum has a fairly pedestrian collection of Flemish, Italian and French works, although it’s worth a look for the fine Roman mosaic,…

3. Musée d’Histoire Naturelle

0.28 MILES

Nîmes' natural history museum has the usual displays of stuffed beasties, fossils and skeletons, as well as a few menhirs (standing stones) decorated by…

4. Musée du Vieux Nîmes

0.3 MILES

Inside the city's 17th-century episcopal palace, the town museum delves into the history of Nîmes from Roman times through to the modern era, with lots of…

5. Maison Carrée

0.34 MILES

Constructed in gleaming limestone around AD 5, this temple was built to honour Emperor Augustus’ two adopted sons. Despite the name, the Maison Carrée …

7. Église St-Baudile

0.46 MILES

Topped by twin towers reaching 70m, Nîmes' largest church (accommodating up to 3000 worshippers) was built in neogothic style between 1867 and 1877.

8. Jardins de la Fontaine

0.6 MILES

Roman remains in these elegant gardens include the 30m-high Tour Magne, raised around 15 BC – the largest of a chain of towers conveying imperial power…