Nothing prepares you for the sight of Nîmes' stunning, twin-tiered Roman amphitheater, looming up in the heart of town like an abandoned set from Gladiator. It's one of the best preserved in the world, Built around 100 BCE, the arena once seated 24,000 spectators and staged gladiatorial contests and public executions. An audioguide explains the site as you explore the arena, terraces, stairwells and corridors (known to Romans as vomitoria).
At 133m long, 101m wide and 21m high, with an oval arena encircled by two tiers of arches and columns, the amphitheater is a testament to the skill and ingenuity of Roman architects. The seating is divided into 34 terraces; the posher you were, the closer you sat to the action. The amphitheater’s oval design meant everyone had an unrestricted view. Originally, the amphitheater would have had a canopy that protected spectators from the weather. A system of trapdoors and hoist-lifts beneath the arena enabled animals and combatants to be put into position during the show.
Despite being adapted and plundered for stone over many centuries (during the Middle Ages, an entire neighborhood was located inside its walls), the structure of the amphitheater is still impressively intact. The atmosphere when it was filled to capacity must have been quite something. From the top tier, you can see right across the city all the way to the Tour Magne. Afterwards you can view replicas of gladiatorial armor and original bullfighters’ costumes in the museum.
The amphitheater is still used to stage live events, including gladiator fights during the Grands Jeux Romains and bullfights during the Férias de Nîmes in May and September.
