Been in that amphitheatre over 20 years ago to a Buena Vista Social Club concert. The atmosphere was amazing. Cant believe after all those 20 years it still looks the same, like its been there all along for thousands of years.
The preservation of several Roman monuments is explained both by the fact that many of these monuments were reused perpetually since Roman times which prevented them from being transformed into a stone quarry and that Nîmes proud of their heritage Roman ensured its preservation throughout the centuries. Thus, little is known but the Roman amphitheatre inaugurated in 121 by the"Emperor Hadrian will be devoted to circus games barely 250 years but will be used for more than 700 years as a military fortress since the time of the Visigoths in the 5th century who succeeded the Romans after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and incorporated Nimes and its region in their kingdom of Spain until 1391 when the king of France Charles VI visiting Nimes in 1389 judging the castle of the arenas too dilapidated decided to build a new royal castle on the "location of the current gate Augustus so that the royal garrison which occupied the fortress of the amphitheatre since the annexation of the city of Nîmes to the kingdom of France in 1229 left the amphitheatre to settle in the new castle in 1391. , Thus the fortress of the amphitheatre underwent several sieges from the Frankish kings successors of Clovis , the Visigoth king of Spain Wamba in 672 came from his capital Toledo to subdue his Nîmes subjects in rebellion, the Frankish leader Charles Martel in 737, or Vikings landed in the Camargue in 859 or Hungarians from the Rhone Valley in 920;. The castle of the arenas was then the residence of the viscounts of Nîmes vassals of the count of Toulouse surrounded by their guard called The knights of the Arenas and died in the fortress of the amphitheatre the count of Toulouse Raymond V in 1194 . Became the seat of the royal garrison of Nîmes in 1229 until 1391, the kings of France visited Nîmes from King Saint Louis in 1248 came to supervise the construction of the port of Aigues Mortes to embark for the crusade in Egypt until"'to the King of France Charles VI in 1389.
The city of Arles is also full of roman buildings, one other majestuous amphitheater, theaters, triumphs arcs, etc. Also St-Remy of Provence, the archeological site of Glanum, wich was a greek-founded city, as greek and mostly roman ruins. The city of orange has one of the most impressive roman theater and a beautiful triumph arch. Most big french cities have been laid on former roman cities, as such, lots of foundations, walls, aqueducs, arcs, remains of thermes still remain even if not is as in a good shape as in Nimes or Arles
I think it's absolutely wild how the Roman amphitheatre/amphitheater is still being used almost exactly as it might have been "back in the day" 1800 years ago. Gotta hand it to the Romans. They knew how to build things :D
Thank you for the tour. Personally I love all Roman Architecture and have visited many Roman sites but not this one. You have whetted my appetite for a wee visit. Thanks again.
Hey Scott, your new GoPro’s definition is just amazing. My wife and I were in Nimes at the same time as you! What a base it is. Looking forward to your particular angle on a slightly underrated toon. We revelled on it’s delights. Thank you for taking the time to make these insightful and enjoyable videos. Perry
Greetings from a very rainy Hadrian's Wall Country, Scott. Thanks for suffering the heat so we don't have to! The condition of some of those Roman remains is really very good (compared to what's left in my neck of the woods). Enjoy the rest of your visit!
Very well done thank you. The spring that fed Nimes through the pont du Gard is now used to bottle Perrier water. Narbonne was much bigger than Nimes as ir was the capital and administratif centre of the province of Gallum Narbonisis but there’s only buried archeology there now. Try Arles next.
Brilliant video Scott 👍🙂 I have to admit that I knew nothing about Nimes until your videos and now think it would be a great place to visit in future. Keep up the great work 👍🙂
I can't belive it - you didn't once talk about food or coffee, Scott. Very impressive structures all over the place . One of the most famous garment was first woven here - denims , from which we get jeans which is basically a tough twill cloth . Think Levi think Ňimes .
Great video Scott, and brought back wonderful memories from a visit to Nimes we did back in early 2014. One thing missing from your visit which we did was the Tour Magne - I was quite ok going up, not so great coming down... definitely no OH&S in the form of handrails on steep Roman steps!!
Well, you discovered the Roman genius of amphitheatre design - it was important to keep the plebs at the top separate from the aristos in the better seats at the bottom, with separate entrances and staircases. The design obviously still works!
Those still are the cheap seats. Was sat up there for David Gilmour. And it was a great place for concert. Muse & David Gilmour back in 2016. The hike to the top is a mission. Especially after a few drinks.
Great video scott i love seeing places that i know and like to see what others think ,there are parts of Nîmes though that you need to keep well away from ,recent explosions in gun shopping all to do with drug's of course are giving it a bad name ,also the heat is a thing northern Europeana find hard to cope with 30 odd la the norm for nealy every day in summer
The statue of Antonine, I would assume to do with the Antonine Wall in central Scotland? Another enjoyable video, you new GoPro camera is superb, much clearer videos now, a good investment :)
Yes, it was the same Roman emperor who reigned from 138 to 161 at the time of the pax romana, the period of the apogee of the Roman Empire when it reached its maximum extension on the Scottish border, the Danube and the Euphrates, the empire is prosperous and in peace, taxes are falling .Although Antonine was born in Italy, Antonine is the son and grandson of Consul and Senator of Nîmes from where his statue in Nîmes which is called the city of the Antonins, because it is the cradle of the imperial dynasty. The daughter of Antonin marrying Emperor Marcus Aurelius successor of the latter and their son Commodus was the last of the Antonine dynasty to reign over Rome, knowing that the accession to the imperial throne of Antoninus will be favored by the Empress Plotine born in Nimes and wife of the Roman emperor Trajan who allowed Hadrian, who is said to have been the mistress of the throne after the death of Trajan, to be succeeded by a man from his Nimes clan, Antonin. It was Emperor Hadrian who visited the "Empress Plotine in Nîmes in 122 inaugurated by games the amphitheatre of Nîmes whose construction had been started in 79 at the time of the inauguration of the Colosseum of Rome on the model on which it is built but in better state of conservation (it is the best preserved of the amphitheatres listed in the world so that we fear to go around the galleries as the Romans did, and so much so that a few years ago the municipality of Rome used the amphitheatre of Nîmes in its advertising campaign for the Italian capital, because in better condition than the Colosseum of Rome, which created a scandal).Indeed, the Gallic tribe of the region of Nîmes loyal ally of Julius Caesar and his nephew Octavian became the Roman emperor Augustus to whom it provides troops to defeat his rival Mark Antony and the queen of Egypt Cleopatra will be rewarded by Augustus who not only endowed the city of a gigantic enclosure ( the largest of Gaul) and an aqueduct, but the inhabitants of Nîmes received the privilege of"being admitted as full Roman citizens so that the city was directly administered by the"emperor from Rome and no longer dependent on the capital of the Narbonne Province,so that the inhabitants of Nîmes did not pay tributes and had the right to have senators representing them in the Senate of Rome and to take up the functions of directors as consuls or tribunes or prefects reserved until then to the Italians alone, which explains the career of the father and grandfather of the "emperor Antonin who were born in Nimes.
Love this seeing Roman influences. Tip: better have even a cloth Fisherman's hat- design (with small rims around, easy to pack) instead of direct heat from sunlight. Better BRING WATER to drink because it's bad to be dehydrated, can pass out and kidneys could fail. I felt time-warped as you find your way down those stone steps thinking how many Romans feet passed those times in the earlier centuries. If only walls can speak! (just figurative speech). Same set-up in modern arenas now, flights of stairs in each section level but more smooth flooring and have handrails as you go down to your seat. I'm amazed at your stamina exploring at direct sun's heat at mid-day, I can go out when it has cooled down. That's why I leave very early when exploring & rest at mid-day, I don't mean to punish myself but enjoy my trips. Anyway, to each his own.
There are bull fight culture in southern France since neolithic times. It is very ancient. Nowadays, there are harmless local traditions such as course camarguaise and course landaise, and also the spanish-style bullfight that is practiced since the 1800´s.
Love the lack of health and safety. Went to El Jem in Tunisia and it was refreshing to take responsibility for not falling several stories onto the plaza below.
Very nice, how did you decide on Nîmes as a place to visit? Very impressed, my kind of town but in 🇫🇷. Day 2 and am wondering what can Days 3-7 will bring to surpass this. Well done!
Why didn't you show the front part of the Roman temple (Maison carrée)? It's beautiful! Don't go to Nîmes between June 15 and September 15: it's very hot (30-35°C).
It would have been better to visit Nimes in May, when the bullfighting festival happens. Not only there will be bullfighting, there will also be parade, fireworks and street dances. You ought to book the rooms one year before that though. However if you're looking forward to see the historical side of the city, any time else would be better.
You missed the Roman tower in the gardens but understandable in that heat!
Saw P!nk, Stevie Wonder and ZZ Top in this amphitheater, (7 days musicfestival). The atmosphere inside that place is incredible!!
Beautiful place!
Been in that amphitheatre over 20 years ago to a Buena Vista Social Club concert. The atmosphere was amazing. Cant believe after all those 20 years it still looks the same, like its been there all along for thousands of years.
It's been there for thousands of years
Nimes looked very clean. Looks like it’s worth a visit. I wouldn’t do it in the height of summer without a hat!
Those ruins were so well preserved in such a beautiful French city, nice to see they take such care over them.
The preservation of several Roman monuments is explained both by the fact that many of these monuments were reused perpetually since Roman times which prevented them from being transformed into a stone quarry and that Nîmes proud of their heritage Roman ensured its preservation throughout the centuries. Thus, little is known but the Roman amphitheatre inaugurated in 121 by the"Emperor Hadrian will be devoted to circus games barely 250 years but will be used for more than 700 years as a military fortress since the time of the Visigoths in the 5th century who succeeded the Romans after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and incorporated Nimes and its region in their kingdom of Spain until 1391 when the king of France Charles VI visiting Nimes in 1389 judging the castle of the arenas too dilapidated decided to build a new royal castle on the "location of the current gate Augustus so that the royal garrison which occupied the fortress of the amphitheatre since the annexation of the city of Nîmes to the kingdom of France in 1229 left the amphitheatre to settle in the new castle in 1391. , Thus the fortress of the amphitheatre underwent several sieges from the Frankish kings successors of Clovis , the Visigoth king of Spain Wamba in 672 came from his capital Toledo to subdue his Nîmes subjects in rebellion, the Frankish leader Charles Martel in 737, or Vikings landed in the Camargue in 859 or Hungarians from the Rhone Valley in 920;. The castle of the arenas was then the residence of the viscounts of Nîmes vassals of the count of Toulouse surrounded by their guard called The knights of the Arenas and died in the fortress of the amphitheatre the count of Toulouse Raymond V in 1194 . Became the seat of the royal garrison of Nîmes in 1229 until 1391, the kings of France visited Nîmes from King Saint Louis in 1248 came to supervise the construction of the port of Aigues Mortes to embark for the crusade in Egypt until"'to the King of France Charles VI in 1389.
The city of Arles is also full of roman buildings, one other majestuous amphitheater, theaters, triumphs arcs, etc. Also St-Remy of Provence, the archeological site of Glanum, wich was a greek-founded city, as greek and mostly roman ruins. The city of orange has one of the most impressive roman theater and a beautiful triumph arch. Most big french cities have been laid on former roman cities, as such, lots of foundations, walls, aqueducs, arcs, remains of thermes still remain even if not is as in a good shape as in Nimes or Arles
The Romans have a seriously good lighting rig and sound system...
i really enjoyed that video, thanks. brian d.
I think it's absolutely wild how the Roman amphitheatre/amphitheater is still being used almost exactly as it might have been "back in the day" 1800 years ago. Gotta hand it to the Romans. They knew how to build things :D
Thank you for the tour. Personally I love all Roman Architecture and have visited many Roman sites but not this one. You have whetted my appetite for a wee visit. Thanks again.
Hey Scott, your new GoPro’s definition is just amazing. My wife and I were in Nimes at the same time as you! What a base it is. Looking forward to your particular angle on a slightly underrated toon. We revelled on it’s delights. Thank you for taking the time to make these insightful and enjoyable videos. Perry
Greetings from a very rainy Hadrian's Wall Country, Scott. Thanks for suffering the heat so we don't have to! The condition of some of those Roman remains is really very good (compared to what's left in my neck of the woods). Enjoy the rest of your visit!
Very well done thank you. The spring that fed Nimes through the pont du Gard is now used to bottle Perrier water. Narbonne was much bigger than Nimes as ir was the capital and administratif centre of the province of Gallum Narbonisis but there’s only buried archeology there now. Try Arles next.
Non la source de Perrier est à Vergeze ce n'est pas celle qui circulait dans le pont du Gard celle ci venait d'Uzes
Git a hat oan yer napper Scott!!! Loving this video. 🙏👍
Wear a hat Scott. Oh yes! Don't forget to mention 'De Nîmes".
Le bleu de Nimes a blue tent canvas that Levi Strauss made into riveted jeans hence denim jeans?
Brilliant video Scott 👍🙂
I have to admit that I knew nothing about Nimes until your videos and now think it would be a great place to visit in future. Keep up the great work 👍🙂
I can't belive it - you didn't once talk about food or coffee, Scott. Very impressive structures all over the place . One of the most famous garment was first woven here - denims , from which we get jeans which is basically a tough twill cloth . Think Levi think Ňimes .
THANK YOU SCOTT LOVELY VIDEO
Impressive building 1:18 but it may crumble . Too old. A million cracks. We don't know if it's structurally sound.
Good job scrambling around that amphitheater in the heat mate! Edit: did it feel hotter than your walk around Dubai?
It reminded me of the Dubai visit. That was a complete scorcher as well.
Thanks!
Many thanks ;-)
Great video Scott, and brought back wonderful memories from a visit to Nimes we did back in early 2014. One thing missing from your visit which we did was the Tour Magne - I was quite ok going up, not so great coming down... definitely no OH&S in the form of handrails on steep Roman steps!!
What an amazing place to see a concert.
There is an amazing amphitheater in Pula Croatia 🇭🇷 absolutely stunning
Great video as always
I hate the heat never go to a sunny country my favourite place to visit is Scotland love the places
I love Rome. Thank you Scott.
You chose a lovley historic place nice one enjoy scott
Had a wonderful week there a few years ago: the amphitheatre is truly "formidable"!
that was great, thanks
hope you went and cooled off and had a long drink after that
Well, you discovered the Roman genius of amphitheatre design - it was important to keep the plebs at the top separate from the aristos in the better seats at the bottom, with separate entrances and staircases. The design obviously still works!
What a true professional scott 😊
i think thats auld antoninus pius whom the antonine wall was named after a wee reminder of home scott.
Those still are the cheap seats. Was sat up there for David Gilmour. And it was a great place for concert. Muse & David Gilmour back in 2016. The hike to the top is a mission. Especially after a few drinks.
great video really enjoyed seeing the ruins I visited Tarragona to see the Roman ruins there earlier this year might just have to pay Nimes a visit
Thank you 👏❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was this hot when I visited. It’s double the temperature of the UK right now.
That looked blast furnace hot, you must have been there during recent European heatwave
I found it tricky to get all the way to the top of the amphitheatre. I just love my Roman ruins and these are the best outside of Rome.
All those steps and stairs in all that heat. I take my hat off to you
Who does wonder mid July to be hot in South France?
Great video scott i love seeing places that i know and like to see what others think ,there are parts of Nîmes though that you need to keep well away from ,recent explosions in gun shopping all to do with drug's of course are giving it a bad name ,also the heat is a thing northern Europeana find hard to cope with 30 odd la the norm for nealy every day in summer
The statue of Antonine, I would assume to do with the Antonine Wall in central Scotland? Another enjoyable video, you new GoPro camera is superb, much clearer videos now, a good investment :)
Yes, it was the same Roman emperor who reigned from 138 to 161 at the time of the pax romana, the period of the apogee of the Roman Empire when it reached its maximum extension on the Scottish border, the Danube and the Euphrates, the empire is prosperous and in peace, taxes are falling .Although Antonine was born in Italy, Antonine is the son and grandson of Consul and Senator of Nîmes from where his statue in Nîmes which is called the city of the Antonins, because it is the cradle of the imperial dynasty. The daughter of Antonin marrying Emperor Marcus Aurelius successor of the latter and their son Commodus was the last of the Antonine dynasty to reign over Rome, knowing that the accession to the imperial throne of Antoninus will be favored by the Empress Plotine born in Nimes and wife of the Roman emperor Trajan who allowed Hadrian, who is said to have been the mistress of the throne after the death of Trajan, to be succeeded by a man from his Nimes clan, Antonin.
It was Emperor Hadrian who visited the "Empress Plotine in Nîmes in 122 inaugurated by games the amphitheatre of Nîmes whose construction had been started in 79 at the time of the inauguration of the Colosseum of Rome on the model on which it is built but in better state of conservation (it is the best preserved of the amphitheatres listed in the world so that we fear to go around the galleries as the Romans did, and so much so that a few years ago the municipality of Rome used the amphitheatre of Nîmes in its advertising campaign for the Italian capital, because in better condition than the Colosseum of Rome, which created a scandal).Indeed, the Gallic tribe of the region of Nîmes loyal ally of Julius Caesar and his nephew Octavian became the Roman emperor Augustus to whom it provides troops to defeat his rival Mark Antony and the queen of Egypt Cleopatra will be rewarded by Augustus who not only endowed the city of a gigantic enclosure ( the largest of Gaul) and an aqueduct, but the inhabitants of Nîmes received the privilege of"being admitted as full Roman citizens so that the city was directly administered by the"emperor from Rome and no longer dependent on the capital of the Narbonne Province,so that the inhabitants of Nîmes did not pay tributes and had the right to have senators representing them in the Senate of Rome and to take up the functions of directors as consuls or tribunes or prefects reserved until then to the Italians alone, which explains the career of the father and grandfather of the "emperor Antonin who were born in Nimes.
Love this seeing Roman influences. Tip: better have even a cloth Fisherman's hat- design (with small rims around, easy to pack) instead of direct heat from sunlight. Better BRING WATER to drink because it's bad to be dehydrated, can pass out and kidneys could fail. I felt time-warped as you find your way down those stone steps thinking how many Romans feet passed those times in the earlier centuries. If only walls can speak! (just figurative speech). Same set-up in modern arenas now, flights of stairs in each section level but more smooth flooring and have handrails as you go down to your seat. I'm amazed at your stamina exploring at direct sun's heat at mid-day, I can go out when it has cooled down. That's why I leave very early when exploring & rest at mid-day, I don't mean to punish myself but enjoy my trips. Anyway, to each his own.
Re the Maison Caree , all it is missing is a duke of Wellington statue with a Cone on its head !!
Its Very much like the MMA in Glasgow 😅
Didn't you read all the information boards in the amphitheatre passages?
I never knew France had bull fighting. Hope it is the type of bull fighting where the bull remains unharmed.
Very popular in south west France Beziers still thrives !😢
No bulls were harmed in the making of this vlog ; one Scotsman however was roasted .
Picasso used to draw bulls here , Van Gogh also spent some time here !
There are bull fight culture in southern France since neolithic times. It is very ancient. Nowadays, there are harmless local traditions such as course camarguaise and course landaise, and also the spanish-style bullfight that is practiced since the 1800´s.
Love the lack of health and safety. Went to El Jem in Tunisia and it was refreshing to take responsibility for not falling several stories onto the plaza below.
Would it be the Pont du Gard by any chance Scott?
Not advertising the price till you get to the desk eh, must have had lessons from the National Trust 😂😂😂
Very nice, how did you decide on Nîmes as a place to visit? Very impressed, my kind of town but in 🇫🇷. Day 2 and am wondering what can Days 3-7 will bring to surpass this. Well done!
Er, probably the cheap Ryanair flight helped Scott here 😅
Great video Scott, even if you are as bad as Steve Marsh taking me up high to raise my blood pressure 😂 keep safe, cool and remember the water.
Some fine Roman sites in Turkey as well. Mind the bus touts. Likely not as bad as it used to be pre-internet.
Does not seem to be many people around
Why didn't you show the front part of the Roman temple (Maison carrée)? It's beautiful!
Don't go to Nîmes between June 15 and September 15: it's very hot (30-35°C).
Often hotter than this, many days above 35. When heatwaves, usually around 40, Record is 45c.
Opened the oven door 😂😂😂😂 haha
What happened to your audio? In parts it was muffled.
imagine thinking that bull fighting is okay in 2023
Cheers Scott. Bye the way it Mad dog and ENGLISH MEN?
2000 years old and still in better knick than Hampden Park 😂
if you opened the door its simple shut it
DONT DIE.
YOU ARE NOT A 20 YEAR OLD.
HYDRATE MORE, WALK LESS.
DO MORE EARLY MORNING.
Wear a hat, man!
The Romans thought of everything.... Except wheelchair users 😕
Where is Russell Crowe when you need him?
It would have been better to visit Nimes in May, when the bullfighting festival happens. Not only there will be bullfighting, there will also be parade, fireworks and street dances.
You ought to book the rooms one year before that though.
However if you're looking forward to see the historical side of the city, any time else would be better.