Nina Pavan (in Nîmes), edited by Ophélie Artaud 3:58 p.m., July 18, 2022

Fifteen departments in red vigilance, 51 in orange vigilance.

The heat wave sets in this Monday throughout France.

In Nîmes, for example, the thermometer reaches almost 40 degrees.

A rise in mercury that is increasingly difficult to bear, even for regulars.

And for tourists, visiting the city is more and more complicated.

REPORTAGE

The heat wave settles in all of France this Monday with 15 departments are on red alert.

40 degrees are notably expected in Brest, in Brittany.

In the rest of the country, it is not much better.

51 departments are on orange alert.

In Nîmes, we regularly flirt with 40 degrees.

An unbearable situation, even for tourists.

"In the afternoon, it's complicated to stay outside"

In the sun-drenched streets, not many tourists at midday.

And for good reason, the thermometer displays 38 degrees in Nîmes.

Temperatures difficult to bear, even for regulars.

"I'm particularly sensitive to heat. However, I really like the afternoon, I know it's hot. I live here, but there, it's a lot", underlines Marie.

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Same observation for Edouard who tries as much as possible to walk in the shade.

At his feet, his dog Sienna drinking from a fountain.

He brought her here so that she too could cool off.

"Nîmes is a basin and there is not much air. In the middle of the afternoon, it is really complicated to stay outside. I think that in the years to come, we will have to get used to live like in Spain, going out later when it's cooler."

A little further on, sitting in front of the arenas, Louisa, who came from Germany, decided to cut short her visit because of the heat.

"I'm just going to look for an air-conditioned restaurant. We would like to be able to visit Nîmes, but it's more pleasant to stay cool," she smiles, confiding that she wants to come back to visit this beautiful city.

But in the fall, when it will be less hot.