Amphitheatre in Nimes visitor guide

Visit Amphitheatre in Nimes, France

The amphitheatre in Nimes (called the Arènes de Nimes), in the Occitanie region of France, is an important monument dating from the Roman era.

Discover the Amphitheatre in Nimes

France This Way review: the amphitheatre in Nimes is a very good example of a Roman amphitheatre - the town claim it is the best preserved in the world - and therefore an important site to visit when you explore the town

The amphitheatre was built at the end of the 1st century AD as a venue for spectacles and gladiatorial events and based on the recently completed colosseum in Rome.

By the end of the 4th century the role of the arena role had changed, as it became a fortified village during a time that the region was invaded several times, essentially by the barbarians on the edges of the area that had been the Roman empire.

This role continued for almost 1000 years, with the village largely separate from the surrounding town of Nimes, and having its own houses, commerces and local council.

It was only in the 19th century that the arena was cleared of these buildings and restored to its original state, and events such as concerts and bullfights now regularly take place in the amphitheatre.

The external facade of the amphitheatre is currently being meticulously restored, a project that is expected to take at least 10-15 years.

As you arrive at the arena you can see that is a very substantial structure, that appears round in shape but is actually elliptical. From the outside you can see the double row of 60 arches that are the most familiar aspect of an amphitheatre.

Inside you can see the long curved rows of seating and follow the steps and the tunnels that allow access to the seats, to explore the amphitheatre. There are 34 rows of seats and a maximum of 24 000 spectators can be seated here.

There will possible also be a more recent stage present in the middle of the arena, as the amphitheatre is often used for concerts and other events, including the annual music festival called the Festival of Nimes and an annual historic reenactment event.

There is a charge to visit but this is reduced if you buy a town ticket that allows access to several attractions in Nimes. Note that some of the steps inside the arena are very steep, but well worth the effort if you can to enjoy the view of the whole interior as well as some views across the town.

Attractions nearby

There are other Roman monuments in Nimes, such as the Maison Carrée temple, and several other highlights in the town that you can visit - see the Nimes guide for details.

See more Ancient Monuments in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Gard guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.

To make travel arrangements to visit Amphitheatre in Nimes see HERE