Elizabeth de Portzamparc's Musée de la Romanité Opens in Nîmes

On June 2, 2018, the Musée de la Romanité in Nîmes opened to the public, marking the completion of a major architectural and cultural project in France. Designed by architect Elizabeth de Portzamparc, the museum sits on the same square as the Arènes de Nîmes, a first-century Roman amphitheater that hosts festivals and the annual Grandi Giochi Romani. The museum aims to bridge the historical and modern urban fabric of Nîmes, which seeks UNESCO World Heritage status. De Portzamparc won an international competition in April 2012, beating 103 proposals, including finalists Richard Meier and Rudy Ricciotti. Construction began in May 2015, with completion in late 2016. The building's facade features approximately 7,000 serigraphed glass panels, likened to a contemporary mosaic, draped like a Roman toga. Inside, the museum uses extensive multimedia to explore the Romanization of Occitania, with four thematic areas: The Iron Age, The Roman World, The Medieval Period, and The Heritage. The opening exhibition, "Gladiators: heroes of the Colosseum," runs until September 24, 2018. The museum also includes an urban path along ancient Augustan fortifications, a 3,500-square-meter archaeological garden with Mediterranean plants, a rooftop terrace with panoramic views, a bookstore, a café, and a restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Franck Putelat. The museum targets 250,000 visitors annually.