Boasting some of Europe’s best preserved Roman monuments, the lively city of Nîmes hasn’t earned its nickname as the ‘French Rome’ for nothing. And with an enchanting old town, excellent restaurants and shopping, it easily rivals other, better-known destinations in the south of France – or indeed Italy – for a short break. It has a distinctly Mediterranean vibe, with palm trees and golden stone buildings, while its compact size means it’s easily explored on foot. Though there are cultural events all year round, the annual highlight is Les Grands Jeux Romains, when hundreds of gladiator costumed actors re-enact battles and races – albeit much less bloody than their Roman ancestors would have seen.
I wrote about it for National Geographic Traveller magazine, you can read it here.