As the most Roman city outside of Italy, Nîmes is a great place to stop.
I've included two routes:
A circular 3K route that takes in the main sites
I've also added in an extension that goes through the nice and watery Jardins de La Fontaine and up to the Tour Magne which has great views.
Interactive map
Luggage
I'm not aware of anywhere to put your luggage while you stroll - if you do know of somewhere - let me know, thanks.
Strolls
Grand tour (3K green)
Starting at Nîmes Centre, head up the pedestrianised Avenue Feuchères with its soothing cascade of water and up to the Pradier fountain. See if you can work out what the nice young lady-statue is wearing as a hat/fascinator. We'll see that again later.
From the fountain you'll see the Arena, Walk over to it and round to the left and you'll come to the fab modern looking Musée de la Romanité. It contains pre-Roman relics and a visualisation of what Nimes would have looked like at different points of time.
In case you are wondering who this statue is of, it's Nimeno II.
Continue round the arena and past the tourist information office. If you are short of time/hot/thirsty, or just want to people watch, you could park yourself at the Grand Café de la Bourse (or it's little sister La Petite Bourse).
Keep going round and then up the narrow Rue des Arenes (or one of the parallel streets). Continue straight on through the archway onto the even narrower Rue Fresque. At the end bear right onto Rue de la Madeleine and then take the first left down Rue de la Calade. Continue straight on until you reach the Rue de l'Horloge where you turn left and past the best preserved Roman temple in the world - the Maison Carrée. (Remenber the hat/fascinator?)
In the same square you'll find the Caree d'Art which houses various art exhibitions and a library. Go to the far left corner of the Place de la Maison Carrée and walk up Boulevard Alphonse Daudet. When you get to the Square Antonin you'll get a great view of the water features leading to the Jardins de La Fontaine on your left.
This is where you could carry on the tour extension (see below). Otherwise, cross the square and go down Rue de l'Agau. Keep going straight on, through la Coupole shopping centre and turn right onto Rue Corconne. Within 50m you'll see Les Halles on the right - with its indoor market. It's a great place to pick up local produce.
To get back to the station, there are a variety of routes you can take and each street is worth a wander - feel free to get lost, unless you've a train to catch...
One way back is to continue along Rue des Halles. At the end bear left across Place aux Herbes and then turn right down Rue des Marchands. At the end turn right along Rue de la Trésorerie. Continue along this road until you get to Place de l'Hôtel de ville. Go straight on down Rue Régale all the way back to the Pradier Fountain and the station beyond.
Tour Magne extension (2.5K blue)
if you have the time, this a is a very nice stroll.
Picking up from where we left off at the corner of Boulevard Alphonse Daudet and Quai de la Fontaine, walk along the Quai (either side is fine but the north side leads directly in to the park).
On the far side of the park is the Roman Temple of Diana and a nice cafe. There's a set of staircases up to the Tour Magne, one of the last remaining parts of the city walls and from where there are great views of the city. Once you've had your fill, retrace your steps and re-join the main route (green).
