Nîmes, city of art and history, launches the first Digital Heritage Interpretation and Architecture Center (CIAP) in France. Over more than 28 centuries, the City is exhibited virtually.
For everyone, fun and with many documentary and educational resources, this new platform expands the historical, patrimonial and architectural culture of the city.
Sophie Roulle, culture assistant in Nîmes, is happy: “We are happy because it is a long term job. Since 1986 and the registration of Nîmes with the Cities of Art and History label, we have had to commit ourselves to several points. CIAP is also a plus for Unesco and I have to thank the Ministry of Cultural Heritage for having participated 50% in this project. Thanks, of course, also to the CIAP team and Bettina Célié.“
The label of city of art and history commits Nîmes to developing a policy of promotion of architecture and heritage in a broad sense, integrating all the testimonies that make up history and give the city its character. Within the Department of Museums and Heritage, it is the heritage promotion and dissemination department that implements actions related to the label.
The presentation of the digital CIAP (Photo Anthony Maurin).
For Bettina Célié, project manager: “Creating a CIAP is an obligation for the 200 communities that join the network. We started with the creation of the model and the ten minute film which can be seen at the tourist office. The website complements how the city has evolved over time. More walking routes will soon be available for download, but we’ll also talk about some literature…“
Nîmes over the centuries offers you a first exploration. But the strength of Nîmes Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Centre it is above all the invitation that the site launches to explore and learn more about the city of the Antonines over time.
His ambition? Raise awareness of the evolution of its urban planning, its architecture and its landscapes. Many traces of its history, of the men and women who have created and transformed it over the centuries. “With Nîmes over the centuries, we have made 73 complete sheets, but there will be more soon and they will be even more detailed. We try to be attractive, legible and maintain scientific rigour“, notes Stéphanie Siméon, deputy project leader.
Lots of resources
Thus, by monument or by era, the movements of the city are revived. Antiquity, the Middle Ages, modern times, the 19th century or even the contemporary era will open the doors to the urban upheavals of Nîmes.
Square house, Castellum aquae, amphitheater, Augustan enclosure, Porte d’Auguste, Tour Magne, Temple of Diana or even Porte de France, not forgetting the Augusteeum will be the landmarks that will mark the ancient period.
For the Middle Ages, the cathedral, the Romanesque house, that of the advocate of the poor (falling apart inside and out), the Porte de la Madeleine, the Gothic house, the Hôtel de Bernis and the deer house.
The rue du Chapitre, the Protestant cemetery, the Jardins de la Fontaine, the rue de l’Agau, the Vauban citadel, the Petit Temple, the boulevard Gambetta, the Clock Tower, the Fadaise castle, the bishop’s palace, the rue Dorée and rue de l’Aspic, the hotel Novi de Caveirac, the place de la Salamandre, the presbytery, the Hôtel Rivet, the chapel and the Jesuit college, the Grand Temple, the Richelieu district, the barracks or even the city hall will perfectly illustrate the modern era.
The presentation of the digital CIAP (Photo Anthony Maurin).
As for the 19th century, the Esplanade Chazrles-de-Gaulle, the train station, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Avenue Feuchères, the synagogue, the Oratory Temple, the Daudet high school, the Jean-Jaurès alleys, the Saint-Paul, the Jules Salles gallery, the theatre, Place Gabier Péri, the Bopulla house, the Puits Couchoux wash house, the Saint-Luc church, the barracks (again, Nîmes is a real garrison town), the quais de la Fontaine, the rue général Perrier, the Hôtel-Dieu, the Saint-Baudile cemetery or even Mont Duplan will be widely mentioned.
For contemporary times, we begin the visit with the Museum of Romanity, Nemausus, the Dhuoda high school, the monuments to the martyrs of the resistance, the Carré d’Art, the Places d’Assas and the market, the ZUP, Carémeau, the monument to fallen, the Costières stadium, the Saint-Dominique church, the Hoche site of the university or the Colosseum are detailed.
Who will be interested? Tourists, without a doubt, but also and above all the nimes themselves, who have always been curious and keen to know their history and the evolution of the city over the last two millennia.
The presentation of the digital CIAP, here, at the Tourist Office where a model of the city awaits visitors and explains to them the evolution of the city in hand in ten minutes (Photo Anthony Maurin).
The site also magnifies some specificities of Nîmes, “focus” on nature in the city or on the art deco period in the city. The platform also offers two routes for visiting the city of the Antonines. Documents in PDF format can be downloaded, a real little extra! One of 45 minutes and composed around the arenas will allow you to (re)discover the most famous monument of the city and its surroundings: the tourist office, the Alphonse Daudet high school, the arenas, the eagle and the man on all fours, the town hall, the church of Sainte-Perpétue-et-Sainte-Félicité, the station and the prefecture, the Esplanade and the courthouse.
The other, two hours long, is more contemporary with a focus on street art. It should serve toDiscover some of the monumental frescoes created as part of the different editions of the Expo de Ouf. The visitor will thus learn the techniques, history, vocabulary and codes of Street art. Here it is an open-air museum, which some like to call the Little Berlin of Nîmes, but you are really in Nîmes and no comparison is really useful!
“We can send a newsletter every two months and we will publish topics dedicated to CIAP on social media and every Wednesday“, explains Manon Jeanjean. If you have an unsatisfied curiosity, do not hesitate to contact CIAP to let him know. So, and if you lose any information, the teams will be happy to give it to you and record it in a more sustainable way on the website!
The presentation of the digital CIAP (Photo Anthony Maurin).
The most interesting for geeks is undoubtedly the “resources to download” tab where they will find their little happiness and some unknown nuggets just waiting to be! 17 documentary files, nine instructional guides, four activity resources and two game booklets.
The tab “It’s that easy!” it got the main stakeholders talking through two illustrators who made some very nice little videos. The thousand and one secrets hidden behind the facades of the city of Antonins will be revealed to the public… In the form of short cartoons, “It’s really simple!” offers a fun and educational meeting to learn, laugh and discover…
Antonio Maurin
