The lush and leafy park ‘Les Jardins de la Fontaine’ is an oasis of green in the middle of ancient Nîmes with its many Roman monuments. The French Ministry of Culture and a special committee officially classified this beautiful green space as a remarkable garden (jardin remarquable). It is a haven of peace and tranquillity, offering the perfect scenery to wander for a couple of hours.
First public park
Les Jardins de la Fontaine date from the 18th century. It is, in fact, one of the first public parks in Europe. I entered the gardens via the Quai de la Fontaine by passing through a gorgeous gateway. I spent a fair amount of time walking the stately wide lanes of the park’s lower part, admiring the waterways and the fountains. In 1745, the military engineer of King Louis XV, Jacques Philippe Mareschal, created Les Jardins de la Fontaine right at the founding source of Nîmes. This Gallic source ‘Nemausus’ was named after an ancient Gallic god. Mareschal’s inspiration came from gardens’ à la Française’, using large symmetrical alleys and tree alignments. The whole was then richly decorated with balusters, statues and vases, making it very photogenic nowadays!
Roman monuments
Les Jardins de la Fontaine cover no less than 15 hectares on a hill called Mont Cavalier. Named after Nîmes’ mayor Augustin Cavalier, it was he who developed the park further at the beginning of the 19th century. Different settings with various species of trees were developed to appeal to the visitors. Even this public park in Nîmes has some Roman monuments you can visit. I found the first one in the lower part right before I stopped to take a break on the terrace of a lovely café. The remains of La Temple de Diana used to be an ancient Roman temple created in the first century BC. As it was part of a sanctuary, a so-called ‘Augusteum’, it was dedicated to Nemausus and the imperial cult.
Tour de Magne
La Temple de Diana isn’t the only Roman monument in Les Jardins de la Fontaine, though. When you follow the gardens to the highest point of the city via the majestic stairs and the rock-style grotto, you will reach La Tour Magne. The Romans built it around 15 BC as a part of the 6 kilometre long Roman ramparts surrounding Nîmes. The tower used to be the highest point in the city. Emperor Augustus chose this very strategic location to overlook the plains and nearby trade routes. La Tour Magne is the last remaining vestige of the city’s fortifications and can also be visited. Climb the 32 metre high tower to get a fantastic view over Nîmes and its surroundings. The Jardins de la Fontaine sure are a special place to spend time escaping the bustle of the city!
