Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier invited all the people of Nîmes, this Friday evening, to celebrate the registration of the ancient temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A look back at “a historic moment” and a wonderful popular festival.
It was Monday, September 18, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Maison Carrée in Nîmes was included on the UNESCO list. After more than 20 years of work, the study of this proposal by the World Heritage Committee lasted only about ten minutes. Without debate. As if classifying the Roman temple among the best preserved in the world, on the same level as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China or Machu Picchu (Peru) was finally obvious.
After the emotion passed, just a few minutes after the decision of the international body, Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier immediately had a thought for his constituents. “I want to share this joy with all the people of Nîmes, who have always supported us and whom I would like to warmly thank,” he said from Riyadh. Promise kept. This Friday, September 29, there were around 3,000 people responding to the invitation launched by the Mayor for an evening of celebration and celebration at the very foot of the monument.
Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier, his Deputy Delegate for Unesco registration Mary Bourgade, Franz-Olivier Giesbert, sponsor of the candidacy, and the prefect of Gard Jérôme Bonet. ©️ Photos Dominique Marck, Théo Levy Kolpak and Gilles Lefrancq
Shortly after 7 p.m., faced with an ever-increasing number of people crowding in front of Carré d’art, it all started with short speeches. “My dear Nîmes, says Jean-Paul Fournier, all smiles, it is a historic moment that will remain forever engraved in our memories. Nîmes shines even stronger thanks to this inscription. Every day for 20 years, your support has been the driving force behind this candidacy. THANKS ! »
Journalist Franz-Olivier Giesbert thanks the Mayor for making Nîmes “one, if not the most beautiful city in France”. Finally, Prefect Bonet welcomes this long-awaited UNESCO listing. “As if finally, for Nîmes, reality came into line with the evidence”indicates the State representative.
As night falls, the evening continues with a sound and light show lasting a few minutes on the most beautiful screen there is: the white Lens stone facades of the Maison Carrée. On the west side (facing Carré d’art), a mapping device retraces the 2000 years of history of the temple (before later showing the other major sites of the world listed as World Heritage). Different light animations then run in a loop until midnight.
The festival, desired to be popular and cheerful by the City (mission accomplished!), vibrates to the rhythm of the two musical stages: one dedicated to tango with the Milonga del Angel and the other, in front of the terraces, with the group Sweety pop who keeps the audience dancing until after 10 p.m. The six bars and restaurants around the Maison Carrée have taken out the outdoor counters and serve drinks and snacks to all Nîmes: a reception offered by the municipality which in places gives the event the air of a “feria of heritage”. Alegria!
Suddenly, luminous giants appear as if from nowhere to wander through the crowd. These are the characters from the show Rêves d’Herbert, by the Quidams company, already seen in Nîmes during the end of year celebrations. A poetic and suspended isntant.
But the queen of the evening is her and nothing but her: the Maison Carrée of Nîmes, which returns to the central place that was already its own in the city two millennia ago at the time of the Roman Forum, attracting all eyes according to its changes of color. This Friday evening, the people of Nîmes celebrate their dear Lady of Stone, some until late at night. Excited at the idea of now sharing it even more with the whole world.
2023-09-30 18:49:31
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