Magne Tower

The Magne Tower is an outstanding remnant of the city walls that once surrounded the town of Nîmes. It overlooks the Fountain Gardens and bears witness to the rich historical past of the city known as French Rome. Strategically located next to the sanctuary, on Mount Cavalier, it can be seen from a distance, allowing visitors to keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area! However, the Romans were not the first to build a tower in such a convenient location. Even before the Romans arrived, there was a Gaulish tower, which had been used to defend the people from possible enemy attacks since the 4th century BC. When they arrived, the Romans rebuilt it, doubling its height and keeping it as a defensive element but also as a symbol of the city’s power and prestige. Its name comes from the Latin Turris Magna, meaning Great Tower. Now 32 metres high, the view from the top of the Magne Tower overlooks the city of Nîmes. You can enjoy it after climbing 140 steps and paying a few euros. However, it is not recommended for people suffering from vertigo, as the staircase does not always have a handrail. This is the only tower still standing, out of the 80 that once adorned the Roman walls! Well… partly standing anyway…