20 Attractions to Explore Near Place de l'Horloge

Maison Carrée or “square house” is an ancient Roman temple located in Nîmes in southern France. It is an extremely well preserved ancient Roman building and represents a nearly textbook example of a Roman temple as described by the architectural writer Vitruvius. This temple was Inspired by the temples of Apollo and Mars Ultor in Rome and it measures 26 metres long by 15 metres wide and 15 metres high.

The Amphitheatre of Nîmes is a perfect illustration of the degree of perfection attained by Roman engineers in designing and constructing this type of extremely complex building. it measures 133 metres long and 101 metres wide, with an arena of 68 by 38 metres. It was one of the best preserved amphitheaters from the roman world.

Les Jardins de la Fontaine is a public park located in Nîmes, in the Gard. They are made around the original Nîmes source, already venerated by the tribes before the arrival of the Romans. The source of the Fontaine is also at the origin of the creation of the agglomeration several centuries before the Gallo-Roman period. Their architectural organization also highlights two major ancient monuments of the city, the temple of Diana and the Magne Tower.

The Tour Magne is a Gallo-Roman monument located in Nîmes, in the Gard. A more imposing vestige of the very long Roman wall of Nîmes, it dominates the gardens of the Fountain on Mount Cavalier. It is mainly accessible by the gardens of the Fountain. It is the subject of classification under the historical monuments by the list of 1840.

A deep canyon carved by the clear water of the river, the Gorges du Gardon reveal all the beauty of the Mediterranean landscapes, from cliffs to garrigues and sheltered forests. The Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and the 16th-century Pont Saint-Nicolas are two historic bridges that cross the Gardon. The Gorges du Gardon, which ends at Pont Saint-Nicolas, is a popular recreation area for kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, and hiking.

The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct in Southern France. It is in the Gard département, in the area of the commune of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. The name should mean "Bridge over the Gard". The aqueduct supplied the city of Nîmes with water. It has a length of nearly 50 kilometers. The bridge is 49 meters high and has bows on three levels. It was probably built in the 1st century. In 1985, the Pont du Gard was classified a World Heritage Site.

Régional Nature Park of the Camargue is a designated protected area along the shoreline of the Camargue. The park protects a wetland environment and an adjacent marine area. The boundaries of the park have been expanded to include a lagoon called the Étang de Vaccarès. The Camargue is also the site of a national nature reserve and has been designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve.

The Church of St. Trophime is one of the iconic structures in Arles, built between the twelfth century and the fifteenth century. It is a Roman Catholic church and an ancient cathedral in the town of Arles.

Located in the city of Aries, Arles Amphitheatre is one of city’s most important and impressive Roman structures. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arles Amphitheatre was built in 90 AD and during its prime time, it had a seating capacity of over over 20,000 spectators. It was built to conduct chariot races and bloddy hand to hand battles.

Abbaye de Montmajour is a fortified Benedictine monastery that was founded between the 10th and 18th centuries. During the Middle Ages, it was a major pilgrimage site. Today, the abbey ruins are preserved by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux as a historical monument.

The Alyscamps is a large Roman necropolis, which was consecrated in the 3rd century by Saint Trophime, the first bishop of Arles, as a burial ground for Christians. They were famous in the Middle Ages and are referred to by Ariosto in Orlando Furioso and by Dante in the Inferno. Christians from far up the river Rhone river would send corpses down the river on rafts with a coin in the mouth to pay for burial in this necropolis.

The Pont d'Avignon is one of the most famous historic bridges in France, forming part of a World Heritage Site. According to the legend, the bridge was built in the 12th century by a young shepherd from Ardèche - Bénezet. It was later washed away several times by flood waters and rebuilt until it was abandoned in the 17th century. Today, all that remains are four arches and a chapel.

It is a museum and art gallery located in southern France's Avignon city. The Musée Du Petit Palais shows an excellent selection of Renaissance paintings from both the School of Avignon and Italy. It also contains 600 sculptures from the tomb of Antipope Clement VII, including the effigy head.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace is one of the largest medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. Palais des Papes is a historical and architectural landmark and primarily a tourist attraction. It is also part of Avignon’s thriving cultural scene and hosts concerts and exhibitions as well as the Festival d’Avignon in its courtyard, making it an integral part of the city’s modern artistic traditions.

Avignon Cathedral is one of the renown Roman Catholic church situated in the Avignon commune of France. It was built in the twelfth century. It features a roman style of architecture and a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary atop the bell tower.

Jardin des doms is a rocky outcrop on the left bank of the Rhone that served as a shelter for the founding and development of the city of Avignon . It was set up as a public garden. It serves as protection for the foundation and then the development of the city. Its summit is covered with a public garden called Jardin des Doms.

Glanum was a prosperous and ancient town dating back from the 7th century BC. The site is renowned for its two well-preserved 1st century BC monuments, known as "Les Antiques"- a mausoleum, and a triumphal arch.

Bambouseraie en Cévennes is the perfect place to bond with nature. A uniquely special botanical gardens with over 1,000 varieties of bamboo, rare flowers, and remarkable trees and plants, offering visitors a magical and completely unexpected break in the Cévennes. It was ranked as one of France’s most beautiful gardens.

The Chaîne des Alpilles is a narrow range of low mountains in southern France. The highest areas of the range are a nature reserve occupied by a variety of endangered birds, including the eagle of Bonelli, the vulture of Egypt and the eagle owl.

The Pic Saint-Loup is a mountain in the region Occitan situated on the edge of towns to Valflaunès and Cazevieille, in the department of Herault. the peak is visible from a large part of the Hérault department, the coastline as well as the Gard, from where its profile evokes a point rising towards the sky. It is one of the most beautiful natural and hiking sites in the Garrigues region.