7Maison Carrée in Nimes, France

The Maison Carrée in southern France, is in such good condition that it technically doesn’t qualify as a Roman ruin. With a beautifully preserved exterior, the Maison Carrée (square house) has most of its original ornament and decoration, giving visitors a good idea of what the temple must have looked like in ancient times.

The temple was built in the early 1st Century CE, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus. The temple was dedicated to Agrippa’s two sons, Lucius and Gaius Caesar, who were heirs to the Imperial Throne before both unexpectedly dying at young ages. The Maison Carrée has a near perfect façade and is a beautiful example of Vitruvian architecture as it confirms to Vitruvius’ principles of architecture.

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