Roman Museum

Further down the Arena Square, you can spot the imposing Roman Museum. The museum opened in 2018 to showcase the city’s archaeological collections, which were previously housed in a much older museum. It was after the discovery of an outstanding mosaic not far from here that Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier decided to build a new museum to showcase all the city’s remarkable remains. To choose the architect for this project, al competition was launched, and Elizabeth de Portzamprac’s design was chosen. The building is made of glass, with a façade designed to look like a mosaic. Nowadays, it houses more than 5,000 works of art retracing the 25 centuries of Nîmes’ history. These are displayed in different rooms equipped with multimedia devices, making for an interactive and immersive visit to the city’s rich past. If you’re interested in discovering the precious remains of ancient Nemausus, this museum is definitely worth a visit. However, let’s take a moment to admire the bronze statue that stands in the square just a few metres from here. It represents Nimeño II, a great bullfighter from Nîmes and one of the greatest figures in French bullfighting. In 1977, Christian Montcouquiol was awarded what is known as The Alternative in the Nîmes bullring. The Alternative is a ceremony during which a novillero, that is a beginner, is promoted to the rank of bullfighter, thus becoming a professional. Nimeño II took part in numerous bullfights in France, Spain and Latin America and established himself as one of the greatest matadors, not only for his spectacular talent for bullfighting, but also for his human qualities and his closeness to the people. Thus, when he was violently knocked down by a bull in 1989 and did not get up, the entire bullfighting world was moved. This event, which marked the end of his career, left him quadriplegic. He underwent several months of rehabilitation before regaining the use of his legs and one of his arms. However, two years later, at the age of 37, he decided to take his own life. The statue standing more than 2 metres high, depicting him in his suit of light, concentrated and awaiting the arrival of the bull, is a fitting tribute to this great figure, who remains engraved in the memories of the people of Nîmes and of all French bullfighters. This masterpiece is the work of artist Serena Carone and former mayor Jean Bousquet, who commissioned the statue. That being said, let’s take a tour of this famous arena and head for the Market Square.