Nîmes

Nîmes, dubbed "the most Roman city outside Italy," originated as a Celtic settlement around 500 BC and became a Roman regional capital under Augustus in the 1st century BC. Its Arena, built around AD 70, could seat 24,000 spectators and remains one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres. The Maison Carrée, a 1st-century temple dedicated to Augustus's heirs, rivals the Pantheon as the most complete surviving Roman building and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was served by a 30-mile aqueduct built around 19 BC, including the famous Pont du Gard.