Amphitheater of the Three Gauls, Lyon — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Climb the slopes of the Croix-Rousse hill and you'll discover the remains of an arena where 60 Celtic tribes once gathered to celebrate their loyalty to Rome, making this one of the most politically significant ancient sites in all of France. The Amphitheater of the Three Gauls was constructed around 19 AD as part of a grand sanctuary dedicated to the cult of Rome and Emperor Augustus. The "Three Gauls" refers to the three Roman provinces of Gaul: Belgica, Aquitania, and Lugdunensis, whose representatives assembled here annually for religious ceremonies and political negotiations. The original arena measured 67.6 by 42 metres, but as the spectacles grew more ambitious, the amphitheatre was expanded in the 2nd century to accommodate approximately 20,000 spectators. That's a staggering number for the ancient world, speaking to Lugdunum's (Lyon's Roman name) importance as the capital of Gaul. The arena witnessed everything from religious festivals to gladiatorial combat, serving as both a sacred and entertainment space. Classified as a monument historique in 1961, the remains have been visible in the Jardin des Plantes since the 1970s, sitting quietly among the greenery while modern Lyon buzzes around them. Questo's Roman Lyon trail leads you to these powerful ruins where the political machinery of the Roman Empire once turned, and where 60 tribes temporarily set aside their differences to honour a distant emperor.