2023-09-19 00:16:11
Recognition hoped for for years by the city of Nîmes, the Maison Carrée was included this Monday on the UNESCO world heritage list.
The Maison Carrée of Nîmes, a Roman temple built at the beginning of our era, was listed on Monday as a UNESCO world heritage site, a recognition hoped for for years in the former Roman colony in the south of France, which is awaiting recognition. significant economic benefits.
It only took a few minutes for representatives of UNESCO member states meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to validate the file for this perfectly preserved, two-thousand-year-old temple, which now joins the prestigious list established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The mayor moved to tears
“We will be worthy of this decision. The Maison Carrée, dear to the inhabitants of Nîmes and the citizens of the French Republic, is now a common good of all the United Nations,” declared from Riyadh the mayor of Nîmes, Jean-Paul Fournier , overwhelmed by emotion and in tears.
“The Maison Carrée of Nîmes, built at the beginning of the 1st century AD, represents one of the oldest expressions, and among the best preserved, of a Roman temple dedicated to the imperial cult”, underlined at the beginning of 2022 Roselyne Bachelot, then Minister of Culture, announcing this candidacy.
During this 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, France had already obtained on Saturday the inclusion of Mount Pelée and the peaks of northern Martinique as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A former Roman colony which reached its peak under Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, Nîmes was an important commercial and cultural crossroads. It retains imposing ancient buildings, including arenas where shows and concerts still take place.
Presentation in 2018
Unlike its neighbor Arles, which also has a Roman amphitheater as well as thermal baths and an ancient theater, or the Pont du Gard aqueduct, Nîmes missed the boat of recognition by Unesco around forty years ago. ‘years.
In 2018, the city finally presented itself, hoping for recognition of the exceptional character of all of its Roman sites. But the decision was “deferred”, the experts not having appreciated the presence in the immediate vicinity of modern monuments.
Nîmes then refocused its application on the Maison Carrée, reopened to the public last year after renovation. The Maison Carrée in Nîmes is the 51st French property included on the UNESCO list.
“This decision constitutes the long-awaited recognition of the ancient heritage riches of which the city of Nîmes abounds. It rewards years of work,” reacted Mary Bourgade, deputy mayor responsible in particular for ancient heritage, quoted in a press release.
According to the municipality, the world heritage listing will “generate an increase in tourist numbers” and will be a “real growth lever for the city”, with “significant economic benefits”.
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