Nimes: Easter Time In France

Cathedrale of Nimes.

While France is historically called the "cradle of Christianity" owing to the ancient Gauls who first accepted the new religion during the Roman occupation, to Charlemagne fame, today not many attend regularly and some laws are now in force to prevent public expression of religion. Still, they are very interested and even adamant about their Easter holiday weekend. In fact the Monday after Easter is a national holiday to allow people to travel back home from their Easter celebrations. Strange.

Easter is (still) an important holiday in France. Everyone goes traveling to see their family, so the trains where quite crowded. It seems that Easter in France still has more traces of the ancient spring celebrations that existed before Christianity. Along with the usual chocolate rabbits and eggs, they have chocolate fish and chickens. They have chocolate euros too, but I think maybe they are more of a Christmas thing that ended up in my Easter basket because they were left over :) I do like chocolate!

'CocoEuros' for holidays.

Roman arena of Nimes.

Chocolate novelties for Easter.

On my return I had a long stop in Nimes, which is the principal city of the Gard region. Nimes is an ancient and very interesting city. I didn't  have time to see too much, but the train station lets you off right down town so I was able to see some of its pretty shopping area, the large cathedral and a very impressive fountain. I also saw the famous Roman arena, which is still used today. They have bullfights in the style of the Camargue (the swampy areas near the Mediterranean)  which doesn't  involve injuring or killing the bull.


 

The SNCF train station at Nimes.

A rainy, cool day at Royan.

April is the very beginning of the tourist season here. The beach at Royan was just warm enough to be pleasant, and the attractions for the tourists have returned for the season.  I did go walking in the surf but the water is still too cold for swimming. It was still early and cold enough in the season that the beaches weren't  crowded.