In Nimes for July 14th

Hi, we are a family of 4 (two teenagers) and will be staying in Nimes for 3 nights from July 12- July 15th. Staying at the Novotel in the centre. Can anyone let me know what events might be happening in town or nearby on July 14th?? Thanks.

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The best place for information about events in Nimes would be here:

http://www.ot-nimes.fr/

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Some more links :

http://www.festvaldenimes.com

http://www.jazzajunas.asso.fr

A lesser known, but useful tourist site : http://www.nemausus.com

Peter

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Thanks for those websites - they have been very useful. There seem to be concerts organised in the arena for every Thursday except on the 14 July Bastille Day, so I assume there will be some celebration/fireworks that night but can%26#39;t see it mentioned anywhere. Hope so anyway!

Thanks again.

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Thursday nights during July/August in Nimes are %26quot;music nights%26quot;. There is free music - around six different musical groups move round the town and set up at various places, normally near restaurants (all the tables are outdoors). Later there are concerts. At the same time there are night markets - craft, books, general and %26quot;brocante%26quot;.

14 July (careful - fireworks could be 13th) will have Bastille day fireworks and music.

Peter

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Thanks Peter

It sounds like there should be plenty of fun and celebrations in the area that night then... it will be great to be part of a typical French celebration somewhere. Just wanted to make sure that we needn%26#39;t plan to go somewhere else for the evening!

Thanks

Liz

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Hi Liz

Check out …cityvox.fr/agenda_nimes/…Profil-Eve

According to this site, Les feux d%26#39;artifices (Fireworks) will be on 14 July, together with Le Bal (dancing in the streets) and the military parade, the latter usually held during the day. Le Bal des Pompiers may start late on the night of the 13th. As it was described to me, this is an opportunity for the young men of the town to meet the young ladies of the town, and les pompiers (Firemen) to raise money.

The fireworks will most likely be held in les Jardins de la Fontaine.

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Thanks Wigwam

Despite revisiting my schoolgirl French with a year of night classes, i still struggle to translate some of the French sites! It looks like there should be plenty on to keep us happy on Bastille Day!

By the way, I have been reading a lot of your posts over the last few months while planning this trip - we are doing the Peugeout Eurolease car from Paris and ending up in Rome over 5 weeks. So thanks again.

Its ended up as a bit of a zig zag trip as our 16 yr old daughter is in France as an exchange student - she started in Laval, (Mayenne) moved to a family in Poulx, just out of Nimes and we have just found out she will be shifting with them to St Andre de Najac, Aveyron for the last half of the year. I had started off trying to keep the trip planning simple but it has got a bit convoluted as of course she wants us to visit each of these places with her as well as what I had already booked.

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Hi,

Just a quick word about the fireworks...I was in nimes last year and saw these. The fireworks are set up all around the Arenes and at dusk, the show starts. The show is an absolutely awsome site with the arenes being lit up by various coloured lights, and the fireworks last for ages. Don%26#39;t miss this one.

Before the event, there is loads going on. Last year, there was a stage set up in the square, and a show was played out...not just a small town amatuer show, but something akin to a west end production.

I%26#39;d reccomend using the day of the 14th as a %26quot;stay in Nimes%26quot; day. The novotel is actually perfectly located for everything and is quite a good modern hotel. The centre atrium is where they serve breakfast and it has a glass roof giving it an airy feel.

I%26#39;d reccomend having breakfast in the atrium, visit les halles market am and do some pottering around the old town pedestrian streets, A visit to carre d%26#39;art (in fact you really should have lunch there, it amazing food for a sensible price...sometimes they book it out for events so ask in the morning if you can book a table), a look at maison carre, a stop in the tourist information, they are really helpful. Then a general potter round the stalls and shows that will be preparing for the eveings events, then watch a show, and then see the fireworks.

I%26#39;m re-living my visit so I know you will have a fantastic day. If you have more time, try get out to Pont du Gard. Also if you have time, visit Uzes, a lovely old town. Near there, and good for the kids, is the Haribo factory...they will enjoy that (makes allow 2-3 hours max)

Also a good visit for the kids is the crocodile farm. It is a bit further north but drivable. Ask tourist office for info.

Have a great time,

Jim