The Maison Carrée is one of the best-preserved Roman temples anywhere in the world and one of the most iconic monuments in Nîmes. Built at the very end of the 1st century BC the temple was dedicated to Gaius and Lucius Caesar. They are the adopted sons and heirs of Emperor Augustus and they both died young. The temple stood at the heart of the forum : the political and religious centre of ancient Nemausus.
Raised on a high podium and surrounded by elegant Corinthian columns the Maison Carrée is admired for the harmony and precision of its proportions. The design draws on classical models from Rome itself and the refined carving of its capitals and cornices reflects the skill of the craftsmen who built it. The remarkable state of preservation makes the temple a rare witness to the architectural ideals of the early Roman Empire.
Unlike many Roman temples the Maison Carrée owes its survival to centuries of continuous use. Over time it served as : a meeting hall, a private residence, a stable, and even a church, each transformation helping to protect the building rather than destroy it. This unusual history has allowed the structure to remain almost entirely intact : a rarity among ancient monuments of its kind.
Today the Maison Carrée stands at the centre of modern Nîmes admired by visitors just as it inspired architects and artists for centuries including Thomas Jefferson who used it as a model for the Virginia State Capitol. Nearly two thousand years after its construction the Maison Carrée continues to embody the grandeur and refinement of Roman architecture in the south of France.
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