An undiscovered treasure in the South of France (Nimes)

Member Name: bkecky

Product:	Nimes
Date:	23/06/09 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Non-touristic, truly French

Disadvantages: Small city, not ideal for a long holiday

The beauty of Nimes is relatively untouched by tourism and is ideal for the traveller looking to experience the true southern French culture. The city is basked in history, with a Roman amphitheatre, dating back over 2000 years, and for wine lovers there is a vast amount of vineyards nearby the city. The nearby villages are charming to visit and the scenery is beautiful.

During the summer temperatures average 32 degrees C and rain is rare during this time. In the spring time it is pleasantly warm in the day but a jacket is required in the evening and the winters are cold, although not so much as the UK.

With its own Ryanair airport, Nimes is cheap to get to the UK and the train station in the centre allows visitors to navigate easily around the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Just 30 minutes away there is a beach, accessible from Le Gare de Roi train station, Marseille, France's second largest city is only 1 hour away by train and Montpellier with is bright nightlife and shopping centre is 45 minutes away by train.

The city itself is quite small and it is not necessary to spend longer than a week to cover the city and surrounding area. A personal recommendation is to visit the bull festival in mid-September where there is a street festival and bull fighting in the Arena.

Boulevard Victor Hugo is packed full of bars and restaurants, leading off into side streets full of treasures waiting to be discovered. Accommodation is reasonably cheap due to the lower tourist population than other cities in the region. There is a tourist train tour and a ticket that covers you for the roman watchtower, the arena and the Carre Maison, which is another Roman monument in the centre square, famous for its excellent conidtion.

The only warning is that if you are looking for a party city, this is probably not the place for you. An average cost of a pint is 5 euros and although wine appears cheap it is not so much for the size of the glass that you receive. There is a limited number of clubs within the area and the real nightlife lies in Montpellier. Also the best time to visit this city is between April and September when the city is alive. During the winter months it is relatively dead, as it is a popular place for holiday homes for the summer, particularly with northern French people.

Overall Nimes is a beautiful undiscovered jewel of the south of France, and it should be seen before the tourist track takes hold of it. Ideal for lovers of France and its culture.

Summary: Ideal for those who want to see the real France