Almost every person on Earth has heard of the famous Roman Colosseum. Still, not everyone knows that it has several counterparts in the world. One of them is located in the French city of Arles in the southeast of the country in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

The heyday of the small city happened during the times of the Roman emperors Constantine and Hadrian. Although the Arles Amphitheater was built in the same era as its Italian counterpart, it is more modest in scale. Walking through the historic center of the city, you won’t fail to pass by this gigantic structure: the main street will lead you right to the top of the hill where it stands.

The theater could accommodate more than 20,000 people. The gigantic ellipsoid, which is 136 meters long, is crowned with 120 symmetrical arches. The unique building allowed spectators to leave the tiers in a very few minutes and also protected the front rows from the attacks of wild animals.

The theater arena was used for the traditional amusements of its time: gladiator games, and chariot races.

Interestingly, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the monumental structure was used as a refuge fortress from barbarian invasions. In those days, the openings of the arches were walled up with stones, and four watchtowers were added, turning the amphitheater into a full-scale medieval castle, and the arena into a city square.

Only in the 19th century, thanks to the efforts of the mayor of the city Baron Chartrouse and writer Prosper Merimee, it was possible to evict the unwanted tenants and restore the appearance of the antique building.

Currently, Spanish-style bullfighting and various historical re-enactments and events, concerts, and theatrical performances are conducted here.

To save money on visiting the sights of Arles, you will find it more convenient to purchase a museum multi-pass for 11 euros, allowing you to see four sites. The entrance fee to the Arles Amphitheater alone is 8 euros.

Near the antique arena, there are several Catholic churches, a Roman obelisk, and the Baths of Constantine. Besides, in the vicinity of Arles, you can visit the wonderful Camargue Park, a French natural reserve.