Carré d'Art

Carré d'Art is the contemporary art museum of Nîmes and one of the most striking modern buildings in southern France. It stands in the Place de la Maison Carrée, directly facing the Maison Carrée, the nearly intact Roman temple that is the city's most famous ancient monument. The architect Norman Foster, working in steel, glass and pale stone, designed the building to answer the temple's proportions without imitating it, and the museum opened in 1993. The name itself plays on the square shape of the original temple, whose name means the square house.

Inside, a transparent atrium of staircases, bridges and light-filled galleries links the floors, and the structure allows daylight to reach the middle of the building. The rooftop terrace has a fine view across the old town to the Maison Carrée and the hill of Tour Magne. The museum houses two functions in the one building: the collection and exhibitions of contemporary art, and a public media library, so locals use it as an everyday meeting place and not just a gallery.

The permanent collection concentrates on works from the 1960s to the present, with an emphasis on French and European art and on artists who emerged in the south. Among the movements represented are Support/Surface, with the Nîmes-born painter Claude Viallat, and Nouveau Réalisme. The museum also shows work in other media, such as video and installation, and temporary exhibitions change several times a year, so the programme is worth checking in advance.

A visit typically takes an hour or two. Opening times and ticket prices are listed on the page, and the museum is part of the group of municipal museums in Nîmes, with a pass offering access to several of them. Anyone who plans to see the Musée de la Romanité, the Arènes de Nîmes and the Jardin de la Fontaine may find the pass worth considering, though the best option depends on how many sites you visit.

Carré d'Art suits art lovers, architecture fans, and travellers who want a contemporary counterpoint to the Roman remains that dominate Nîmes. Its position on the square means it takes only a few minutes on foot to reach the Théâtre Antique, and the Jardin de la Fontaine is a pleasant walk after the galleries.