Nîmes - Maison Carrée

In Nîmes, the Maison Carrée is situated in the Place de la Comédie and is reached from the amphitheater by going northwest down the Boulevard Victor Hugo. Standing on a podium, it is a splendidly maintained Roman temple which was erected at the time of Augustus between 20 and 12 B.C. In the Middle Ages the building was used on occasions as a convent; in the 18th C. it was thoroughly restored, then during the French Revolution sold to the Département as national property.

An art museum was established here back in 1824.

Tall Corinthian columns bear the richly ornamented entablature with a frieze finely decorated with acanthus (front section missing). Fifteen steps lead up to the pronaos (antechamber) and the cella on the same level, which today serves as an exhibition room.