Nîmes

Pra-sejarah

The site on which the built-up area of Nîmes has become established in the course of centuries is part of the edge of the alluvial plain of the Vistrenque River which butts up against low hills: to the northeast, Mont Duplan; to the southwest, Montaury; to the west, Mt. Cavalier and the knoll of Canteduc.

4000–2000 BC

The Neolithic site of Serre Paradis reveals the presence of semi-nomadic cultivators in the period 4000 to 3500 BC on the future site of Nîmes. The population of the site increased during the thousand-year period of the Bronze Age.
The menhir of Courbessac (or La Poudrière) stands in a field, near the airstrip. This limestone monolith of over two metres in height dates to about 2500 BC, and must be considered the oldest monument of Nîmes.

1800–600 SM

Zaman Gangsa meninggalkan kesan-kesan perkampungan yang diperbuat daripada pondok-pondok dan dahan pokok.

600–49 BC

The Warrior of Grezan is considered to be the most ancient indigenous sculpture in southern Gaul. The hill named Mt. Cavalier was the site of the early oppidum, which gave birth to the city. During the third and 2nd centuries BC a surrounding wall was built, closed at the summit by a dry-stone tower, which was later incorporated into the masonry of the Tour Magne. The Wars of Gaul and the fall of Marseille (49 BC) allowed Nîmes to regain its autonomy under Rome.

4th–13th centuries

After the Roman period, in the days of invasion and decadence, the Christian Church, already established in Gaul since the 1st century AD, appeared be the last refuge of classical civilization – it was remarkably organized and directed by a series of Gallo-Roman aristocrats. However, when the Visigoths were accepted in the Roman Empire, Nîmes was included in their territory (472), even after the Frankish victory at the Battle of Vouillé (507). The urban landscape went through transformation with the Goths, but much of the heritage of the Roman era remained largely intact.
By 725, the Muslim Umayyads had conquered the whole Visigothic territory of Septimania including Nîmes. In 736-737, Charles Martel and his brother led an expedition to Septimania and Provence, and largely destroyed the city (in the hands of Umayyads allied with the local Gallo-Roman and Gothic nobility), including the amphitheatre, thereafter heading back north. The Muslim government came to an end in 752, when Pepin the Short captured the city. In 754, an uprising took place against the Carolingian king, but was put down and count Radulf, a Frank, appointed as master of the city. After the war events, Nîmes was now only a shadow of the opulent Roman city it once had been. The local authorities installed themselves in remains of the amphitheatre.
Carolingian rule brought relative peace, but feudal times in the 12th century brought local troubles, which lasted until the days of St. Louis. During that period Nîmes was jointly administered by a lay power resident in the old amphitheatre, where lived the Viguier and the Knights of the Arena, and the religious power based in the Bishop's palace complex, around the cathedral, its chapter and the Bishop's house; meanwhile the city was represented by four Consuls, who sat in the Maison Carrée.
Despite incessant feudal squabbling, Nîmes saw some progress both in commerce and industry as well as in stock-breeding and associated activities.
After the last effort by Raymond VII of Toulouse, St. Louis managed to establish royal power in the region which became Languedoc. Nîmes thus entered finally into the hands of the King of France.

Zaman serbuan

Semasa kurun ke-14 dan 15, Lembah Rhone mengalami siri-siri serbuan berterusan yang menghancurkan ekonomi dan menyebabkan kebuluran. Adat resam dilupakan, kekacauan agama menyebabkan (lihat Perang Agama Perancis) dan epidemik, kesemuanya mejejaskan bandar ini. Nîmes, yang mana merupakan salah sebuah kubu kuat Protestant, menghadapi tekanan berskala penuh dan konfrontasi perang saudara (termasuk pembunuha beramai-ramai Michelade) yang mana berlanjutan sehingga pertengahan kurun ke-17, tambah sengsara berlakunya kejadian wabak.

Kurun ke-17 sehingga Revolusi Perancis

Pada pertengahan kurun ke-17, Nîmes menikmati satu zaman kemakmuran. Pertambahan penduduk menyebabkan kota dibesarkan, dan perumahan setinggan digantikan. Notre-Dame-Saint-Castor, istana Bishop dan pelbagai rumah agam (Hotel) telah dibina semula. Pembaharuan ini menguatkan industri pembuatan dan pekerjaan industri di kota ini, jumlah penduduk meningkat daripada 21,000 kepada 50,000 orang.
Pada zaman ini juga dibina taman-taman pancur, Quais de la Fontaine telah dibina di kawasan sekeliling Maison Carrée dan Amphitheatre telah dibersihkan daripada pencerobohan, sementara keseluruhan penduduk mendapat manfaat daripada kemakmuran yang dinikmati.

Dari Revolusi Perancis sehingga kini

Berikutan dengan krisis ekonomi yang melanda teruk Nîmes, zaman Revolusi menghasilkan penyangak politik dan agama. Keganasan Putih ditambah dengan malapetaka semulajadi and kemelesetan ekonomi, menyebabkan pembunuhan, penjarahan dan pembakaran dengan senjaga berlarutan sehingga tahun 1815. Undang-undang kemudian berjaya dikuatkuasakan dan Nîmes menjadi sebuah kota metropolis bagi Bas-Languedoc, mempelbagaikan industrinya. Pada masa yang sama, kawasan sekitarnya mengadaptasi keperluan pasaran dan berkongsi peningkatan kekayaan.
Semasa Perang Dunia II, pejuang penentang Maquis, Jean Robert dan Vinicio Faïta dihukum bunuh di Nîmes pada 22 April 1943. Perkarangan Nîmes pula dibom oleh pesawat pengebom Amerika pada tahun 1944.
2º Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie (2ºREI), rejimen infantri bermotor utama dalam Legion Asing Perancis ditempatkan di Nîmes sejak tahun 1984.

Ekonomi

Nîmes secara tradisinya terkenal dengan tekstil. Denim, fabrik untuk seluar jeans biru, mendapat namanya daripada bandar ini (Serge de Nîmes).

Budaya

Sebuah jurnal matematik, Annales de Gergonne, telah diterbitkan dari Nîmes bermula pada tahun 1810 sehingga 1822 oleh Joseph Gergonne.
Asteroid 51 Nemausa dinamakan bersempena dengan Nîmes, di mana ia ditemui pada tahun 1858.
Dua kali setahun, Nîmes menganjurkan satu pertunjukan laga lembu utama di Perancis, Feria de Nîmes (perayaan), dan beberapa ratus ribu penonton akan berkumpul di jalanan.
Pada tahun 2005, Rammstein memfilemkan album Völkerball di Nîmes, dan sekali lagi pada tahun 2017.

Pengangkutan

Lapangan Terbang Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes terdapat di bandar ini. Gare de Nîmes adalah pusat stesen keretapi, menawarkan sambungan ke Paris (rel berkelajuan tinggi), Marseille, Montpellier, Narbonne, Toulouse, Perpignan, Figueras di Sepanyol dan beberapa destinasi wilayah. Lebuhraya A9 menghubungkan Nîmes dengan Orange, Montpellier, Narbonne, dan Perpignan, A54 dengan Arles dan Salon-de-Provence.
Terdapat rancangan untuk membina landasan berkelajuan tinggu TGV, Contournement Nîmes – Montpellier menghubungkan Nîmes dan Montpellier dengan LGV Méditerranée.