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Jardins de la Fontaine
Jardins de la Fontaine. Image published under tthe GNU Free Documentation License, verison 1.2 or later The Jardins de la Fontaine, a park at the foot of Mount Cavalier in Nimes, is the site of the city's original Celtic settlement. The gardens, laid out by Jacques Philippe Marechal in 1745, incorporate the ruins of an ancient sanctuary dedicated to a sacred spring. Marechal, a military engineer, was inspired by the gardens at Versailles designed almost a century earlier by Andre Le Notre.
The Temple of Diana, Nimes. Image published under the GNU Free Documentation License, verison 1.2 or later The gardens incorporate several Roman remains including the Tour Magna, part of the city's ancient fortifications, and a magnificent ruin, fancifully dubbed the Temple of Diana, whose purpose is unknown although some archaeologists believe that it may have been a sauna or even a library. The gardens, the first public park in France, are stocked with an extensive collection of Mediterranean plants, and are terraced, the different levels being linked by a series of artificial streams and ponds. The finely manicured lawns are punctuated by floral displays, statues of nymphs, vases, ornamental railings and ponds. © 2007 LACT Limited. All rights reserved Brief History Arena Carre d'Art Citadel Jardin de la Fontaine Maison Carree Tour Magne
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