ROMAN MUSEUM

Located opposite the famous Arènes, the Musée de la Romanité is dedicated to the city's incredible archaeological collections, brought to life by 65 multimedia devices (augmented reality, audiovisual technologies). The origins of Nîmes are evoked by the remains of a monumental pediment that adorns the museum's central atrium. The double-revolving staircase takes visitors back to Gaulish times, then to the heart of Roman daily life, as they discover the city and its inhabitants almost 2,000 years ago. It then moves through the Middle Ages to the present day, to discover the influence of Romanity over the centuries. It's a place that you can visit several times, and never tire of, such is the richness of the experience.

The Musée de la Romanité, with its contemporary architecture, was designed by Elizabeth de Portzamparc. Part scientific museum, part restaurant, part Mediterranean garden, its roof terrace offers a 360° view of Nîmes' most emblematic sites. In 2006-2007, preventive archaeological excavations were carried out in the Allées Jaurès area prior to construction work. During these excavations, a domus (Roman house) and two mosaics named Achilles and Pentheus were discovered in an excellent state of preservation. These pieces are described by specialists as "the most beautiful after those in Pompeii". This discovery strengthened the resolve of Jean-Paul Fournier, Mayor of Nîmes, to create a new contemporary museum. He wanted to showcase these extremely rare works, as well as those then housed in the former ^19th-century Musée Archéologique de Nîmes.

At the Musée de la Romanité, the historical experience is fun and interactive, and families are particularly well catered for, with a wide range of multimedia facilities adapted to young visitors. To help children become real specialists in antiquity, the museum offers free game booklets and a visioguide adapted to their comprehension. For disabled visitors, and in particular the blind and partially sighted, the museum has a tactile pathway from the reception area to the permanent tour, with objects to touch. In addition, specific tours are offered in sign language for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, and in FALC for the mentally handicapped.

The Musée de la Romanité is a living space, and invites you to extend your experience by strolling through the archaeological garden and admiring the view from the roof.