Nîmes, France 🇫🇷- Into the Féria Culture

Once thing I promised myself was not to run from one thing to the next on this trip. To really slow down and capture the sounds, smells, and rhythm of this city, and its culture and how it fits into the South of France, warts and all, like many places around the globe.

Sleeping in a bit helped me today to help keep the slow down going. Katy D. and I met up at our usual spot late morning, and I was all in on that idea.

We took it slow, as in we strolled around the entire perimeter of the two-spired church that is seen for miles, trying to find the entrance.

In the three times I’ve been to Nîmes, I’ve never been in, so today it was it. Come to find out that right next to the big red honking doors, rigged with bungee cords to keep visitors out, was a door to the right of that about 3 yards away. Well, we got in more steps on a beautiful Sunday morning, so all good.

Lighting a couple of candles, and walking around this impressive Gothic church, named Eglise Sainte Baudile, the largest church in Nîmes was fantastic. It can hold 3000 worshippers! I loved the elaborate stain-glassed windows, with lots of color and pretty when the sun shone through. This Roman Catholic Church was dedicated to the first apostle in the 3rd century. The church itself was built in the 1860s, and has a commanding presence in Nîmes with its two spires seen throughout the area, including my apartment.

Still taking it easy, we hit a grocery store, then decided to buy some food and eat it in the little cafe area. I got the special: a little 6" pizza, a cookie and drink for 4 euro. Cheap and good lunch, I’d say.

How about a hunt for a couple of Tshirts from the Féria de Nîmes 2026? We did that too, as we sauntered down where the vendors were located to see what we could find. I bought 3 for loved ones back home. A little more shopping at Monoprix rounded out the shopping part of the day.

Still taking it easy enough, Katy and I noticed a gate that was open to a courtyard that we decided to check out. Luckily, our timing was good, and the hour before closing is how we fell into the Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Nîmes. Katy and I didn’t need much more than an hour since it wasn’t that big, though the building looked like it could hold more artifacts.

The best part in the first building (prehistoric humans and taxidermic animals and other creatures), and then down the street the second building with “aquatic” sea animals, were the virtual reality (VR) movies we saw. The first one was about the cave bear, and the second was about marine life - each lasting about 10 minutes.

That’s it! The day was done and we retreated back to our apartments a few blocks from each other for the rest of the day. We both wanted to write and make some art with some newly purchased paper, colored pencils, and watercolors.

I loved the ease and no hustle today.

bSoleille!

Terri