Nimes

This afternoon, after classes, I visited Nimes. First stop, the amphitheatre (les arenes). This was built at the beginning of the second century AD. There had been amphitheatres in Italy since the second century BC and as Nimes had become a Roman colony in 49 BC, this type of building had become popular as a place to be entertained. A day in the arena started with fights to the death between animals and hunters. At midday, those convicts who had received the death penalty were tied to stakes and given over to wild animals. In the afternoon there were combats between gladiators.
In later years this place was turned into a fortress and people lived there. In more recent times the amphitheatre was used for bullfighting, coming from Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries. They still have performances held here, the main one in April, where they invite you to go back in history and watch gladiators fighting, horse tournaments and military processions, to name a few.
This amphitheatre in Nimes is the best preserved Roman theatre of its kind in the world.
La Maison Carre, the square house, is beautiful. We had coffee nearby and enjoyed just looking at it. This is also a world famous remnant of Roman times. It was built in the first century BC as a temple and is the only one still intact in the world. Among other things, it was used as a town hall and a church through its history. Now it is a cinema and projects a 3D movie of the history of Nimes. There are gladiator battles with weapons appearing to be coming at you.
I visited the gardens and took some more photos of beautiful bridges. Hope you enjoy.

 For those of you interested in food, my next report will show just some of the treats awaiting the traveller to France, and to Nimes in particular.