Amphithéâtre de Saintes

Built under the reign of the emperor Tiberius, in the first half of the 1st century, the amphitheatre of Saintes is one of the very first built in Roman Gaul, even earlier than those of Arles and Nîmes. Rather than raising an entirely built structure, the ancient architects cleverly used the natural slope of a small valley to support part of the terraces, which could hold up to fifteen thousand spectators who came to watch gladiator fights and hunts. Although largely levelled over the centuries to serve as a stone quarry, the site retains a remarkably clear ellipse, highlighted by excavations and restorations that let you appreciate its scale from the remains of the northern terraces.

← Other sites in Charente-Maritime