Languedoc-Roussillon: Roll up for the magical history tour

Languedoc-Roussillon wears its ancient past with pride. Drive along the A9 highway and in parts you’re on the road laid down by the Romans in about 118BC. The 257km Via Domitia was the first Roman road to be built in Gaul, and the area around is peppered with evidence of Roman life. On the 8km stretch between Beaucaire and Nîmes there are still milestones in place. Further south are the ruins of the settlement of Ambrussum with the remains of a Roman bridge spanning the River Vidourle.

Meanwhile, Narbonne, capital of the Roman province Gallia Narbonensis, offers a great archaeological museum (00 33 4 68 90 30 54; set in the Archbishop’s Palace and open Tues-Sun 10am-noon and 2-5pm; adults ¤5.20/ £4.30). Here you gaze at an absorbing Roman collection of stone carvings, paintings and more.

But the most spectacular Roman sites are concentrated in the Nîmes area. The city itself holds two jaw-dropping Classical constructions. Right in the heart of Nîmes, dominating the square that |was once the forum, is the small and perfectly formed temple known as the Maison Carrée (open daily 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm; adults ¤4.50/£3.75). With its elegant pediment and Corinthian columns, it is beautifully preserved – and will remain so thanks to conservation work now taking place. Only priests were once allowed entry but today tourists can take a look inside – where they see a 3D film about Roman life, its dialogue spoken in Latin, with French and English subtitles. Equally impressive and considerably larger is the city’s Roman amphitheatre south west of the temple (except for special events, open daily 9.30am-5pm; adults ¤7.70/£6.50 including a lively audio guide).

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It was built in the first century AD, and is now probably the most intact Roman arena in the world. A huge oval with enormous walls, it is a masterpiece of engineering and proportion. The city’s great shows were held here: gladiator and animal fights. Today the arena is still used for concerts. For more information, see arenes-nimes.com.

Nîmes became a rich Roman town when it acquired a guaranteed supply of water. About 20km north-east of the city is the magnificent aqueduct built for that purpose between 40 and 60AD. Spanning 275m of the Gardon |Gorge, the Pont du Gard (pictured above) is a |marvel of construction. There is no charge to |visit the site (the best views are from the right bank) but you’ll need to pay for the car park and you may well want to |learn how it was built |(and much more) at the |innovative museum |and cinema in the visitor centre on the left bank (open daily – except |Monday mornings – 9.30am-5.30pm; adults ¤6/£5 for the museum and ¤4/£3.30 for the cinema).