Oppidum de Nages

Oppidum de Nages is an Iron Age fortified settlement on a hilltop near Nimes that contains defensive walls, towers, and residential buildings from Celtic times. The site displays the remains of an organized community with streets and religious structures that defined settlement in that era.

The Volques Arécomiques tribe founded this settlement between 290 and 250 BCE as a fortified center in the region, which lasted until Roman forces arrived. The site marks a crucial transition between independent Celtic communities and Roman rule.

The settlement shows early Celtic architecture with houses of similar size arranged along streets, reflecting how residents organized their daily community life. Walking through the layout today gives a sense of the social order and planning that shaped their living spaces.

The archaeological site lies west of Nimes and is accessible via country roads approaching from Nages-et-Solorgues village. Visiting requires weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear, as the hilltop location is exposed and the paths across the site can be uneven.

Excavations revealed a religious temple from 70 BCE that was destroyed by fire in early Roman times. This discovery provides insight into the spiritual practices that continued through the transition from Celtic to Roman influence.