Roman legions march again in Nimes

NÎMES, in the south of France, about 25 km from the Mediterranean coast and 240 km from the border with Spain, was an important Roman city when the Emperor Hadrian visited in AD 122.

It was surrounded by walls and towers and two of its greatest buildings, the Roman temple and the amphitheatre, have survived to this day.
The temple, known as the Maison Carrée, is a gem of architecture which now houses a small cinema showing a film on the history of the city. The amphitheatre is the best preserved in the Western world, still used for its original purpose — spectacle.
Concerts take place there, and bullfights, and on the last weekend of every April the great Roman Games are recreated for three unforgettable days for audiences up to 13,000.
Every year has its theme, and this year it was Spartacus, the gladiator who led a rebellion of his fellow slaves and defeated two Roman armies in battle.

Read the full feature in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald