Roman City Nemausus-Maison Carrée

The temple was erected at the beginning of the 1st century AD, likely at the initiative of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. It was dedicated to his sons Gaius and Lucius, the prematurely deceased adopted sons of Emperor Augustus. An original dedicatory inscription, removed in the Middle Ages, was reconstructed in 1758 by the scholar Jean-François Séguier based on dowel holes. The Maison Carrée is a classic Augustan podium temple, enthroned on a 2.85-meter-high podium above the city's forum. Its preservation is due to its conversion into a church in the early 5th century, which saved it from destruction. Later, it served as a meeting place, stable, and archive before becoming a museum in 1823. The current name, which originated in the 16th century, means “rectangular house,” as “carré” at that time still meant “rectangular.” Between 1988 and 1992, extensive renovations took place, during which the roof was renewed and the surrounding square was excavated, revealing parts of the Roman forum.

The Roman city of Nemausus-Maison Carrée is located in Nîmes, in the Gard department of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, France, at an elevation of approximately 54 meters above sea level.

Today, visitors can explore the remains of the Roman city, including the Maison Carrée. The Maison Carrée itself is occasionally used for art exhibitions and stands as an impressive example of Roman temple architecture.

• Roman city of Nemausus-Castellum (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.5 km away
• Roman city of Nemausus-Amphitheater (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.5 km away
• Roman city of Nemausus-Porta Augusta (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.6 km away
• Roman city of Nemausus-Tour Magne (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.8 km away