Nīmes is an amazing town with a glorious past and many splendid Roman monuments:

• The Arčnes, the best preserved Roman amphitheatre in the world

• The Maison Carrée, a main temple dedicated to the son and grandson of Emperor Augustus

Nīmes has also a penchant for contemporary architecture with Carré d'Art designed by Sir Norman Foster. Each year, Nīmes Feria is the biggest town party of the region with bullfights in the arena and music in all the city.

The conference dinner will be held at the Pont du Gard. This Bridge, a spectacular heritage feature of the Roman world across the Gardon River, is one of the most spectacular masterpieces dating from the 1st century AD. The Roman engineers designed this aqueduct, which stands almost 50 m high and a stone bridge measuring 273 m long and 43m high. Named after the Gardon River, the bridge was originally erected to supply Nīmes with water from the Eure spring in Uzčs.

Check the Tourist Office of Nīmes for more information about Nīmes.

Tours in and around Nīmes

If you have time before or after the conference, the Tourist Office offers a number of tours. Check their website at http://www.nimes-groupes.com/en/html/circuits.html.

Getting to Nīmes

Air

Ryanair flies to Nīmes from London Luton, Liverpool, East Midlands and Brussels Charleroi. Nīmes-Arles-Camargue Airport is located 15km from the centre of Nīmes.

The shuttle bus from the airport takes 20-25 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on the bus and cost EUR5.

Train

Nīmes is less than three hours from Paris by TGV high-speed train. Access to the TGV station is from Terminal 2 of Charles De Gaulle airport. Check the information and schedules at http://www.bonjourlafrance.net/france-trains/tgv-mediterranean/schedules/paris-ile-de-france-montpellier-perpignan.htm.

Nīmes Railway Station is a five-minute walk from the Roman amphitheatre, just to the south of the city centre. Check the city map of Nīmes for the location of the station, which is close to the Atria Hotel.

From Montpellier Airport

There is a shuttle from Montpellier Airport to the city of Montpellier (see http://www.montpellier.aeroport.fr/layer_en.asp?nav=6_10_0) but it does not stop exactly at Montpellier station. So after the navette (shuttle), you take a tram (TAM) to the station (ticket 5.40 euros for the shuttle and tram): around 20 minutes. Alternative you can take a taxi directly to the station. The train from Montpellier to Nīmes takes around 30 minutes, ticket should be bought in advance and they cost 8-12 euros depending on the time of the day and when it is purchased (cheaper when bought earlier)

Visa

All foreign visitors wishing to enter in France must have a valid passport or an identity card (only for nationals from the European Union). Please inquire with your local France representative if you need a visa or check http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/.