Maison CarreeFrench words: Maison Carréealternative words: Square house keywords: church , roman remains , southern france , tourist resort related topics: Nimes , Madeleine church related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_Carree , http://www.insecula.com/oeuvre/O0000781.html explanation: Built at the forum of Nimes around 19 B.C. by a Roman general, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, for the memory of his 2 sons, died very young, Maison Carree is one of the Roman monuments best preserved until now. Raised on a podium of 3m high, Maison Carree was a classic Augustan temple with 26m long by 15m wide, but transformed to a Christian church in 4th century. Hubert Robert drew a mythical ambience of this temple in his painting of 1787. Madeleine church in Paris has been inspired by Maison Carree. | |