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Arènes de Lutèce

A Roman amphitheatre in the Latin Quarter, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, on Sainte-Geneviève hill. It was built between the late 1st and early 2nd centuries, under Trajan or Hadrian, and is a hybrid model of arena and theatre: it was used for theatrical performances and gladiator fights. It measured about 130 by 100 metres on the outside, with an elliptical arena of slightly more than 50 metres on its major axis, and could hold close to 16,000 spectators. It was forgotten for centuries and rediscovered in the 19th century; the restorations of the early 20th century make it hard to tell the original Roman work from the reconstruction. Today you can see the reconstructed tiers, the foundations of the stage and stretches of the elliptical wall. You enter through the passage at number 49 rue Monge, from rue des Arènes or from square Capitan. The nearest metro stations are Place Monge and Jussieu.

Things to do at Arènes de Lutèce: 3 missions

• Enter at 49 rue MongeFind the passage at 49 rue Monge, which runs through a residential building, and walk through it to the terraces.
• Sit on the terraces and look at the arenaSit on the reconstructed terraces and picture the elliptical arena surrounded by around 16,000 spectators.
• Find the foundations of the stageLook for the remains of the foundations of the theatre stage, which show that the building also served as a theatre.

Near Arènes de Lutèce

Source: Wikipedia - Arènes de Lutèce