Maison Carrée, Nîmes
The pride of Nîmes, the exquisitely preserved Maison Carrée (Square House) is one of the most beautiful, and certainly one of the best-preserved, Roman temples of Europe. Lovely and forlorn in the middle of a busy downtown square, the temple strikes a timeless balance between symmetry and whimsy, purity of line and richness of decor.
Built around 5 BC and dedicated to Caesar Augustus and his grandson Lucius, the Maison Carrée was modeled on the Temple to Apollo in Rome. The temple then saw subsequent use as a medieval meeting hall, an Augustinian church, a storehouse for Revolutionary archives, and horse shed.
Set on a raised platform with magnificent marble columns, the Maison Carrée's architecture inspired both Thomas Jefferson and the builders of La Madeleine in Paris. A changing roster of cultural and art exhibits is presented beneath an authentically preserved roof that the city of Nîmes repaired in 1996.
The interior of the great structure serves as a venue for temporary exhibitions as well as a display for photos and drawings of current archeological work.
Visitor Information for the Maison Carrée
| Location: | Place de la Comédie, Nîmes , France |
| Phone: | 04-66-36-29-76 |
| Hours: | Nov-Mar daily 9am-5pm; Apr-Oct daily 9:30am-6:30pm |
| Cost: | Free |
