History

Recent History

One of Nîmes' passions is bullfighting, although the corridas (bullfights) in France do not end with the bull being killed, as in Spain. Nîmes has two major bullfighting festivals in June and September (the latter coincides with the grape harvest), as well as during carnival time. The five-day Féria de Pentecôte (Whitsuntide Festival) draws more than a million people to the town for the bullfights, partying and festivities. In 1996, Nîmes was the venue for the debut of the first elite female matador, Spaniard Cristina Sanchez. In 2006, the new Bull Museum opened in Nîmes, displaying bullfighting history and memorabilia. Fencing is one of France's favourite spectator sports and is the first sport ever to have provided medals for the country on an international scale. The last world championships were held in Nîmes in 2001. It was a special event for the team and its manager Philippe Omnès. They won ten medals, two of them gold.

Modern Day History

With Lyon creating strong competition in the textile industry, forward-thinking Nîmes' businesspeople began planting vineyards - the wine industry would grow into a major part of the economy in the 20th century. Meanwhile, English aristocrat Sir John Harmsworth, having bought a spring near Nîmes from local doctor Louis Perrier, began carbonating and bottling the water. The Perrier company is still going strong and the bottling plant can be visited from Nîmes.

Despite a plethora of historical buildings in Nîmes, there is modern architecture as well. In 1986, Norman Foster, an English architect, designed the Carré d'art, a stunning contemporary art building.

Golf is a popular pastime in the region and the folk of Nîmes partake on a regular basis. In 1988, the Carcassonne Golf Club was built by Jean Pierre Bascurco. This was closely followed by the construction of its rival Golf de Nîmes Vacquerolles, which runs up a valley and over steeply wooded hills. It boasts scenic views and a stream that crosses the course. But - wait for it - between the first and second fairway lives a nearly extinct species of sheep.

Pre 20th Century History

The history of the region dates back to the Neolithic period. There is evidence to support the presence of semi-nomadic cultivators between 4000 BC and 3500 BC. A limestone monolith, La Poudriere, is thought to have been constructed around 2500 BC.

Between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, a wall was built around the area. The finishing touch was at the summit where a dry-stone tower was built.

Nîmes won back its autonomy under Rome during the Gallic Wars and the fall of Marseille in 49 BC. Around 50 BC, Nîmes became a Roman colony. Augustus subsequently made the city the capital of Narbonne province and proceeded to give it a facelift. This included a 6km (3.7mi) ring of ramparts with 14 towers, Porte Auguste, Porte de France, the Forum and possibly the aqueduct. At the time, the city had 60,000 inhabitants. It also had a civil basilica, a gymnasium and an amphitheatre dating back to the 2nd century AD. The World-Heritage-listed Pont du Gard, a huge three-tiered aqueduct, about 20km (12.4mi) east of Nîmes, was built about 19 BC.

Barbarians, including the Visigoths, Burgunds and Ostrogoths, pillaged the decadent empire. As prosperity declined, Christianity, which had been established in Gaul since the 1st century, slowly established itself in the region. In AD 710, Spanish Moors began incursions which would last for over 40 years. Pepin the Short brought the trouble to an end and local powers established themselves in the amphitheatre.

The feudal period in the 12th century brought with it more local squabbling which lasted until the days of St Louis IX. Despite its troubles, commerce and industry actually prospered in Nîmes. Eventually, St Louis managed to base royal power in the region and Nîmes finally fell into the hands of the king.

The 14th and 15th centuries were terrible for the Rhône Valley. A series of constant invasions destroyed the economy and brought about famine, religious trouble and epidemics. Nîmes was, by now, a Huguenot city and endured repression from the Catholic Church until the middle of the 1700s. Outbreaks of plague also affected the beleagured population.

A change in fortune came with a booming silk and textile industry. The population started to grow, the town expanded and prosperity slowly ensued. Slum housing was replaced and a series of buildings were reconstructed including Notre-Dame-Saint-Castor, the bishop's palace and many hotels. The population rose from 21,000 to 50,000 during this time.

Nîmes endured a period of revolution after the European economic crisis. Murder, pillage and arson took over the city until 1815.

The 19th century was a more settled time for Nîmes and it soon became a metropolis within Bas-Languedoc.

As a city renowned for its textiles, Nîmes has its own claim to fame. During the 1849 Californian gold rush, one Levi Strauss was making trousers for miners. Looking for a tough, hardwearing fabric, he began importing the traditionally blue serge de Nîmes, nowadays known as denim.