Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2006 - La Maison Carrée (30)

The Maison Carrée is an ancient Roman temple located in Nîmes, in the south of France. Built in the early 1st century AD, it was dedicated to Caius and Lucius Caesar, the grandsons of Emperor Augustus. This temple is one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world, featuring classical Roman architecture with a rectangular facade. While it was originally richly decorated, it has retained much of its ancient charm. The Maison Carrée served as a temple dedicated to the Roman imperial cult and was repurposed for various uses over the centuries, including as a church and municipal archives. Today, it is a major tourist site open to visitors, with a small museum inside that traces its history. The Maison Carrée is part of the "Historic Centre of Nîmes" site, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, providing an exceptional opportunity to explore Roman architecture and ancient history.