Nimes was famous for its textile industry. A little known fact is that the etymology of the word denim, the fabric of blue jeans, derives from 'serge de Nimes'. The fabric was exported to the southern states to clothe slaves. Nimes was also the birthplace of a doctor of the name of Jean Nicot who introduced tobacco in France from Portugal in the mid-16th Century, and gave his name to nicotine.

Nimes has some of the best preserved Roman monuments in France. The 1st-century Roman Arena is huge, with an arcaded two-storey façade and vaulted interior. As many as 20,000 spectators could watch the gladiator fights from its tiers of seats. As the Roman Empire went into decline and barbarians started to raid Roman cities, the Arena was used as a fortress. Today, it is again the site of bloody fights: it is Europe's largest bullfighting arena outside Spain. The Maison Carrée is an elegant 5th-century temple, remarkable for its harmonious proportions. It was dedicated to the adopted sons of the emperor Augustus. It was used as a model for the construction of the Madeleine church in Paris.

The Pont du Gard, the famous aqueduct of Nimes, is one of France's top tourist attractions. The impressive structure over the Gardon river is believed to have been built about 19 BC by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa as part of a 50-kilometre aqueduct that brought water to Nimes. The most remarkable thing about it was that it was built without mortar: the stones were held together by iron clamps. The Pont du Gard is 49 metres high and consists of three tiers of arches, with a road on the first level and a water conduit on the top level. The conduit is 1.8 metres high and 1.2 metres wide. Unfortunately, its interior is closed to the public. Despite the neglect from the 4th Century onwards, the Pont proved surprisingly sturdy and survived until Napoleon III ordered its restoration in the mid-19th Century. The aqueduct is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1985.