With its beautifully maintained Roman monuments, stylish boutiques and vibrant wine scene, it’s all too easy to fall in love with the place that invented denim. Here are seven things to do when you’re visiting this trendy French city. 

1. Visit one of the many wonderful wineries in the Costières de Nîmes appellation

You can hike through the vineyards to witness the most stunning vistas, before tasting the wines with the winemakers in their cellars. Some wineries, like Château Mourgues du Grès, offer winemakers’ picnics, where you can enjoy the wines alongside platters of local specialities.

2. Get lost in Les Halles de Nîmes, an Aladdin’s cave of fresh southern French produce

Colourful vegetables, vibrant with health, will catch your eye on one side, then glistening fish spread across crushed ice will vie for your attention on the other. Displays of cured meats, pies, pastries, fruit, coffee, salads, cheeses and more varieties of potatoes you could ever imagine to exist are a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

3. Spend time walking around the best-preserved of all Roman amphitheatres in the centre of Nîmes

Because it has been constantly in use, it has refused to become a ruin. In the Roman times, it was a venue for spectator sports (including gladiator fights), then in the Middle Ages, it became a walled village for the inhabitants of Nîmes. It is used today to host concerts, historical re-enactments and theatre performances.

4. Have dinner at the Michel Hermet Wine Bar, Le Cheval Blanc, and don’t forget to sample a few delights from the impressive cheese trolley

If you’re lucky you might meet the man himself, Monsieur Hermet, the most famous sommelier in France and the president of the Union de la Sommellerie Française. 

5. Hunt for crocodiles!

The logo of Nîmes is a crocodile chained to a palm tree, which represents Rome’s victory over Egypt. You’ll find this logo embossed on gold coins on the floor of the town square, but you’ll find real crocodiles in the town hall. They might be 400 years old, but they hang, stuffed and suspended, over the lobby.

6. Go during May for the gastronomic hike that is Vignes Toquées, where local chefs collaborate to create a multi-course menu eaten in stages at different Costières de Nîmes vineyards.

The strawberries will be in season too, so make sure you indulge in the incredible strawberry-laden desserts.

7. Head to Les Enfants Denim in the evening, a super trendy wine bar in the centre of Nîmes.

The groaning boards of cheese, charcuterie and brandade (the local creamed cod speciality) are fantastic, especially alongside the excellent local wines.