Nîmes

Sister cities

• Fresno
• Fort Worth
• Salamanca
• Córdoba
• Frankfurt (Oder)
• Brunswick
• Verona
• Prague
• Plasencia
• Rishon LeZion
• Preston
• Meknes

History

The Neolithic site of Serre Paradis reveals the presence of semi-nomadic cultivators in the period 4000 to 3500 BCE on the site of Nîmes. The menhir of Courbessac (or La Poudrière) stands in a field, near the aerodrome. This limestone monolith of over in height dates to approximately 2500 BCE, and is considered the oldest monument in Nîmes. The Bronze Age has left traces of villages that were made out of huts and branches. The population of the site increased during the Bronze Age. The hill of Mt. Cavalier was the site of the early oppidum, which gave birth to the city. During the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, a surrounding wall was built with a dry-stone tower at the summit, which was later incorporated into the Tour Magne. The Greek geographer, Strabo, mentioned that this town functioned as the regional capital for the Volcae Arecomici, a Celtic people. The city adopted the name of a local water deity, Nemausus. The town had a healing spring. The Warrior of Grezan is considered to be the most ancient indigenous sculpture in southern Gaul. In 123 BCE, the Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus launched a campaign against Gallic tribes in the area, eventually defeating the Allobroges and the Arverni, while the Volcae offered no resistance. The Roman province Gallia Transalpina ("Gaul across the Alps") was established in 121 BCE, and from 118 BCE, the Via Domitia was constructed through the later site of the city. File:Arena de Nimes.jpg|Amphitheater, used today for concerts and bullfights File:2015-Arena-of-Nîmes-Interior.JPG|Amphiteatre Interior File:Nîmes-Temple de Diane-2.jpg|Temple of Diana File:Maison Carree in Nimes (16).jpg|Roman temple, the Maison Carrée File:Nimes, Roman wall foundations.jpg|Roman wall foundations File:Nîmes La porte Auguste.png|The…

Geography

Nîmes is one of the warmest cities in France. The city has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with summers being too wet for it to be classified as a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). Its slightly inland, southerly location results in hot air over the city during summer months: temperatures above 34 °C are common in July and August, whereas winters are cool but not cold. Nighttime low temperatures below 0 °C are common from December to February, while snowfall occurs every year.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,124
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,794
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,704
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,443
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,293
• European Goldfinch

  Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,289
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,179
• Eurasian Blackcap

  Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,093

Most recent

• M 4.8 — 2019-11-11
  5 km WNW of Rochemaure, France
• M 4.3 — 2011-08-03
  4 km ESE of Barjac, France
• M 2.5 — 2008-12-23
  4 km ENE of Éguilles, France
• M 2.8 — 2008-11-25
  2 km N of Malataverne, France
• M 2.5 — 2008-01-22
  4 km NW of Cruas, France
• M 2.6 — 2007-08-03
  1 km NE of Jonquières-Saint-Vincent, France