Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes)

Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes)

Every Thursday evening during summer, in July and August, during the event Les Jeudis de Nîmes, the city of Nîmes delight you with music live (Flamenco, pop, jazz etc…), sellers of local products, antiques, street food and much more! These events will take place in the historic center of the city: Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, l’Esplanade, Petit Temple, Place Bellecroix, Place de la Maison Carrée,  Place des Esclafidous, Cour du Musée du Vieux-Nîmes, Place de l’Horloge…. turning into a worth browsing night market and local specialties showcase. This is a great time to sample some of the local food, while rummaging among old paintings and knick-knacks, and enjoy having a walk in the buzzing streets of this beautiful Roman City.

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) Place de la Maison Carée

Night Markets (Marchés du soir):
During Les Jeudis de Nîmes, from 6pm to midnight you can find several night markets within the city:

•    Place de la Maison Carrée : Artisans, local handcrafted goods,
•    Place de la Calade : Art, paintings,
•    Rue du Grand Couvent : Artisans, local handcrafted goods,
•    Place aux Herbes : Flea market, collectibles
•    Rue de la Madeleine : books and collectibles,
•    Way between place de l’Abbé Pierre and la place du Chapitre : Local food stalls.

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes)

 

From rue de la Madelaine to Place aux Herbes and around, you can find a street flea market, favorite haunt of late summer afternoon walkers making their lazy way around the neighborhood. There, all along the street you can find vendors selling a wide variety of interesting things, collectibles comic books, exotic stamps, art, toys, vintage objects, second hand cloth and so on.

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) rue de la Madeleine

 

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) rue de la Madeleine

 

If you reach the Place aux Herbes, you can also take a break at the terrace of one of the cafes located around the place such as Le Petit Moka (5 Place aux Herbes). In addition, if you walk furthermore behind the cathedral you will reach the Place du Chapitre. During the Jeudis de Nîmes, as well as some other days along the year, this place hold some music concerts or dance performances. Moreover, on the Place du Chapitre you can also find the restaurant La Piazetta http://restaurant-lapiazzetta.com/. So this Italian restaurant is great spot, it boasts 2 seating options indoor and alfresco areas with a terrace with the view over the Place du Chapitre. There you can enjoy among the best pizzas in Nîmes and a mouth-watering selection of antipasti and local dishes. To tell the truth, la pizetta is doing a good job at delivery quality, quantity and value all together.

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) Place du Chapitre

 

On your way back to the Place de l’Horloge, take a stroll down Rue de l’Horloge and make your way to Place de la Calade. Here, you can immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere, enjoying live music concerts, browsing street vendors, and perhaps sipping a drink at the cozy Annaba Café. As you take in the sights, you’ll also spot the majestic Opéra de Nîmes nearby, adding a touch of elegance to the vibrant square.

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) Place de la Calade

 

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) Place de la Calade

However, the true highlight of Les Jeudis de Nîmes takes place in front of the stunning Maison Carrée, at the Place de la Maison Carrée, where you’ll find a vibrant market filled with stallholders selling local arts, crafts, and unique products. It’s the perfect opportunity to take home a piece of Nîmes’ charm. While you’re there, don’t forget to visit the iconic Maison Carrée itself—it’s open for tours until 9 pm during the event, offering a chance to explore one of the city’s most well-preserved ancient landmarks.

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) – Place de la Maison Carrée

If you’re in the mood for food or just need a refreshing drink, the Place de la Maison Carrée offers a variety of buzzing cafés and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to relax and soak in the lively atmosphere, especially during Les Jeudis de Nîmes, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy music, entertainment, and the charm of the historic center.

Nearby the iconic Maison Carrée, here are a couple of spots I recommend for a drink:

  • Café Carré: The terrace offers a fantastic view of the crowd and the Maison Carrée, making it a great spot to people-watch while enjoying a drink.
  • Le Napoleon: Step into history with its stylish, classy décor dating back to the time of Napoleon. It’s perfect for a touch of elegance.

If you’re craving a meal in this area, consider these gems:

  • Pizzeria Ceruti (25 Rue de l’Horloge): A no-frills, delicious place for a hearty meal. The wood-fired pizzas are a must-try, and the portion sizes are generous.
  • Le Bistrot de Tati Agnes (16 Rue de la Maison Carrée): If you’re in the mood for authentic French bistro fare, this charming spot delivers the goods with no pretensions.
  • La Locanda (12 Rue de la Maison Carrée): One of my favorite hidden Italian gems in the city. Run by an Italian, this place serves up authentic, lovingly prepared dishes that capture the true essence of traditional Italian cuisine.

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Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) Place de la Maison Carée

If you want to have your meal with a breathtaking view over Nîmes then you definitely have to go to the restaurant Le Ciel de Nîmes http://lecieldenimes.net/ located at the top of the Carré d’Art museum. In fact, this restaurant offer a quite tiny selection of dishes and there is nothing very fancy about the food. However, the service is friendly and you can enjoy your meal with an outstanding view over the Maison Carrée and the roofs of Nîmes.

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View from the restaurant Ciel de Nîmes, Carré d’Art

For a more upscale dinner and drink you may go to the relaxing outdoor terrace of La Bodeguita (1 Place d’Assas) 

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Place d’Assas, Nîmes

Yes, the weather is nicely warm, the sun goes down late, very late and we just want to enjoy our Mediterranean summer nights walking around in this very beautiful City of Nîmes. Indeed, the sights and sounds, the hustle and bustle, the objects you would never usually find, the constant cool and fun summer vibes you can literally feel in the air makes Thursdays in Nîmes (Les Jeudis de Nîmes) one of our favorite events ever!

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Ben – The South of France

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