Nîmes — The Forgotten Pact of the Beast

Your quest for the Forgotten Pact begins at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Castor in Nîmes, the starting point of this historical walking tour. Its 34-meter Romanesque facade, initiated in the 12th century between 1096 and 1150, welcomes you with its narrative bas-reliefs. These sculptures, dating from the 12th century, depict biblical scenes which, according to local tradition, conceal the first clues. The church, remodeled in the 17th and 18th centuries after the Wars of Religion, houses the relics of Saint Castor, a 4th-century martyr, the origin of the local cult and urban legends that you will have to unravel to advance in your investigation in Nîmes.

Continue your visit to Nîmes towards the Place aux Herbes, an ancient commercial center and urban living space since the Middle Ages. The covered market, built in 1786 according to the plans of architect Joseph Fontaine and featuring a metal structure in the 19th century, attests to the city's commercial vitality. The 8-meter high limestone arches cover an area of approximately 1,200 m², a space where popular revolts, particularly against the high cost of living, erupted during the French Revolution between 1789 and 1793. It is here, in the heart of the historic merchant quarter, that you will discover a crucial parchment fragment for your mission.

Your itinerary then leads you to the Rue de l'Horloge in Nîmes, a medieval artery laid out in the 12th century. Originally 3.5 meters wide and paved with limestone since the 17th century, this street was a place of intense commerce. The arcaded houses of the 16th and 17th centuries, with their limestone ashlar facades and mullioned windows, survived the damage of the Wars of Religion (1567-1568). As you walk through these vestiges, you will decipher symbols engraved on the facades, clues that bring you closer to the Porte de France, an ancient fortified gate from the 14th century, remodeled in the 17th century, part of the medieval enclosure of Nîmes.

The Maison Carrée in Nîmes, a Roman temple built between 5 and 12 AD, dedicated to the adopted sons of Augustus (Caius and Lucius Caesar), represents an essential milestone in your journey through UNESCO Roman heritage. Its dimensions (26.42 m long, 13.54 m wide, 17 m high) and its colonnade of 30 Corinthian columns make it the only complete Roman temple from antiquity preserved in good condition. Classified as a Monument historique since 1840, this edifice has passed through the ages, transformed into a Christian church in the 4th century then into a stable. Here, a hidden message in the ancient engravings will reveal the next stage of your quest, leading you towards the Arènes de Nîmes.

Your exploration of Nîmes, rich in ancient architecture and legends, concludes at the Arènes de Nîmes, the Roman amphitheater built between 70 and 100 AD. This Monument historique, contemporary with the Colosseum in Rome, could accommodate 24,000 spectators for gladiatorial games and naumachiae. Transformed into a fortress in the Middle Ages, it is now an active site for shows. By solving the ultimate enigma in this emblematic place, you will unravel the threads of the Forgotten Pact of the Beast, understanding the extent of its influence on the history of Nîmes and Occitanie. This GPS treasure hunt will have made you discover the history of Nîmes from a new angle, combining augmented reality tourism and immersive discovery.