or Nimes (anc. Nemausus), a town of France, capital of the department of Gard, stands in a wide and fertile plain, between the Rivers Gard on the N., and Vistre on the S., 23 miles W.S.W. of Avignon, 30 N.E. of Montpellier, and 62 N.W. of Marseilles. The older part of the town is surrounded by boulevards, on the site of the fortifications by which it was once defended; and contains narrow and irregular streets lined with old and ill-built houses. The boulevards form fine broad streets, with handsome houses, and are planted with trees; while the outer parts of the town, which comprise about three-fourths of its whole extent, have wide and regular streets, and handsome modern edifices. The line of the Roman walls of Nismes may still be traced; and some parts of them, and two of the gates, are in good preservation. The principal public buildings of the town are those of Roman origin. Of these the largest is the amphitheatre, an oval structure, which now stands, since the adjoining buildings have been cleared away, in the middle of a large open space; it is 437 feet long, 332 broad, and 70 high. The exterior is very well preserved, though the building was used as a fortress in the middle ages. It has two storeys, each consisting of sixty arches. Within these arches, on each storey, a corridor runs entirely round the building; that in the upper storey being smaller than the lower. Access is gained to the interior by four entrances facing the four points of the compass; and from these wedge-shaped passages lead to the centre, and stairs to the upper seats. On the exterior are also to be observed the holes in which the poles were inserted for supporting the awning which shaded the spectators from the heat of the sun. The interior is not so well preserved; but some of the ancient seats, of which there were thirty-two rows, are still to be seen. It is believed that this amphitheatre could contain upwards of 17,000 spectators. Parts of the interior have been restored, but rather clumsily, by a modern architect; and it is still used by the people of Nismes for bull-baiting and other favourite exhibitions. The date of the building is unknown. Antoninus Pius, Titus, and Adrian, have been each conjectured to have been its founder. Another fine building of Roman construction is a Corinthian temple, commonly called the Maison Carrée, which is adorned with thirty elegant Corinthian columns. It seems to have originally stood in the market-place of Nemausus, which was inclosed by a colonnade. It has been employed at different times as a heathen temple, a Christian church, a town-hall, a stable, a burial-place, a court-house, a corn warehouse, and a museum; in the last of which capacities it still remains, and contains some antique remains and pictures. A temple of Diana, or, according to some, of the Nymphs; a reservoir, forming the termination of an aqueduct; and a curious octagonal tower, called La Tourmagne, whose origin is unknown,—are the chief other ancient buildings in Nismes. Besides these, the town has a cathedral, built in the eleventh century, but considerably altered in subsequent times; several elegant churches; an episcopal palace and seminary; a college, public library, court of justice, barracks, hospital, theatre, &c. Nismes is also the seat of an appeal court for the departments of Gard, Lozère, and Vaucluse; of courts of primary resort and of commerce; a school of design; agricultural and medical societies, &c. As a manufacturing town it holds a high rank; and in the produce of silk it is among the most important places in France. There are several large establishments for dyeing and for printing silk stuffs; but the weaving, which employs from 7000 to 8000 looms in Nismes, is principally carried on by the workmen at their own houses, and not in factories. The silks of Nismes are generally imitations of those of Lyons, and of inferior quality; they are principally used by the lower classes. Tanneries, distilleries, vinegar-works, and potteries, are among the chief manufactories of the place; and in addition to the articles already mentioned, cotton handkerchiefs, hosiery, velvet, chintzes, &c., are extensively produced. An active trade is carried on, especially in raw silk, for which it is the principal emporium in the south of France; and in wine, vinegar, spices, drugs, &c. The importance of Nismes has been recently increased by the construction of railways diverging from this town to Montpellier, Alais, Avignon, Arles, and Marseilles. (Its ancient history is given under NEMAUSUS.) After the fall of the Roman empire it fell into the hands of the Visigoths, who were dispossessed in the beginning of the eighth century by the Moors. The latter were expelled from Nismes by Charles Martel, on which occasion the amphitheatre was partially destroyed by fire, and the town much injured. At the Reformation the greater part of the inhabitants embraced the Protestant religion, and were in consequence subjected to great persecution and cruelty. About one-third of the population are still Protestants, and these form the most wealthy classes in the town. The greatest religious animosity is still kept up between the two sects; and in 1815 a renewed outbreak of intolerance on the part of the Roman Catholics took place. In more peaceful times the mutual aversion of the two parties is shown by the way in which they keep aloof from one another, even frequenting different places of amusement. Nismes was the birth-place of Nicot, who introduced tobacco into France; and of Guizot the historian. Pop. (1856) 49,291.