The Square House is an ancient Roman temple located at Nîmes. It was built at the very beginning of the first century of our era.
Dedicated to Caius Cesar and Lucius Cesar, "princes of youth", as recalled by an inscription on the pediment, and especially adopted son of the Emperor Augustus, it was located south of the forum of the city, then called Nemausus.
The Square House is a rare example of a well-preserved building, though "old" more than 2,000 years old, and the only fully preserved ancient temple.
Its architecture is characteristic of Roman temples, with a row of columns in front. Its dimensions attest to the prosperity of the city with 26 meters long by 15 wide and 17 high. Only the ceiling of the entrance and the door were reworked respectively in the nineteenth century. The restoration campaigns (the last one was carried out from 2006 to 2010) having preserved the original character of the building, listed as a Historic Monument since 1840.
Symbol of imperial power, the Maison Carrée was originally endowed with a court with portico of which only remains rare remains.
According to specialists, the main reason for the good state of conservation of the temple is to have been constantly occupied, even if its vocation was different: from the High Middle Ages, the Maison Carrée became the seat of the consuls then houses stables, a church and after the Revolution, the headquarters of the prefecture and finally that of the Archives of the department. In 1840, it finally houses a museum.
Architectural nod in the 1990s, the municipality has entrusted the architect Norman Foster the task of redeveloping the square in front of which the Maison Carrée opens and to build a museum of art opposite the old temple. contemporary with a refined style, the Carré d'Art.
The iconic monument is accessible to visitors, during which a film evoking Nîmes during the Antiquity is projected. Open all year. Price: 5 and 6 euros (passes including access to other Roman monuments, including the Arena and the Magne Tower, are available). Information on +33 4 66 21 82 56.
