Nîmes – French City Break by Train

Itinerary

Day 1 – By Train to Nîmes

Our Ffestiniog Travellers caught the Eurostar service from London St. Pancras, arriving in Lille two and half hours later with time for refreshments before catching the TGV service direct to Nîmes. Check-in at the Hotel Best Western Marquis de la Baume for a 3-night break.

Days 2 and 3 – Exploring Nîmes

The hotel is situated in the heart of the city and a 1.0km walk (approx. 13-minutes) from Nîmes railway station. An ideal location from which to explore the city of Nîmes and its glorious past that dates back to the 6th Century BC. It is known as the ‘Rome of France’ with its incredible collection of Roman buildings, including a magnificent amphitheatre and the 2000-year-old Maison Carrée, one of the best preserved Roman temples of the Roman Empire. There are lots of museums and markets to explore in Nîmes' palm-lined streets, and the city plays host to a number of high-profile festivals throughout the year, including its famous music festival with a line-up of high profile musicians and singers. It now boasts one of the best archaeological museums in southern France, the futuristic 9200sq m Musée de la Romanité, which opened in mid-2018 and sits opposite the 2000-year-old Roman amphitheatre, Les Arènes. Designed by Brazilian architect, Elizabeth de Portzamparc, it showcases national heritage works of great archaeological and artistic value. There is also the modern Carré d'Art museum of contemporary art and the municipal library. Designed by the British architect Norman Foster, it was built on the site of an old Neo-Classical theatre that burned down in 1952 and its glass, concrete and steel provides an interesting contrast to the nearby Roman temple. The city is also ideally situated for visiting the famous Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct and the enchanting villages of the Cévennes region, with the Mediterranean just 45 minutes away!

Day 4 – Return Home

Another relaxing journey home with a morning departure by TGV, arriving in Lille Europe station at for a short refreshment break before continuing their journey by Eurostar to London.