Zondag 20 september, 10u30

September 2026

Zondag 20
- 10:30 - 11:30

Arènes gallo-romaines

20 Rue Lacurie, 17100 Saintes, France

Charente-Maritime

Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Guided tour: the construction site of the century

Name: Guided tour: the construction site of the century
Start: 2026-09-20T10:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-20T11:30:00+02:00
Location: Arènes gallo-romaines

Started in March 2022, the extensive restoration of the amphitheater is on hiatus until the end of autumn 2026\. Take the opportunity to rediscover the places and learn more about them:...

Zondag 20 september, 10u30

©Ville de Saintes

Started in March 2022, the extensive restoration of the amphitheater is on hiatus until the end of autumn 2026. Take the opportunity to rediscover the site and learn more about the different stages of the project: preventive excavations, restoration of the two monumental gates and protection of animal and plant species.

September 2026

Zondag 20
- 10:30 - 11:30

Additionnal information

Manifestation

Journées Européennes du Patrimoine

Over de locatie

Arènes gallo-romaines

20 Rue Lacurie, 17100 Saintes, France

Charente-Maritime

Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The amphitheater of Mediolanum is one of the earliest in Gaul. It is possible that its construction began during the reign of Tiberius (14-37 AD), to be completed under the reign of Claudius (41-54 AD). This elliptical monument, with imposing dimensions (126 meters long and 102 meters wide), allowed to accommodate several thousand spectators around bloody and violent performances such as gladiator fights (munera) or animal hunts (venationes). In the 3rd century, the city declines and is entrenched inside an impressive rampart, built from the remains of public monuments and funerals of previous decades. The amphitheater is then no longer used. From the Middle Ages, it serves, among other things, as a stone quarry. Today, despite the disappearance of the superstructures, the remains give a faithful image of what this monument could be at the time of its splendor. The site is now quieter and welcomes visitors all year round. Certain objects found during various excavations in the amphithe

September 2026

Kommentierter Besuch: die Baustelle des Jahrhunderts

Guided tour: the construction site of the century

Visita commentata: il cantiere del secolo

Visite commentée : le chantier du siècle

Visita comentada: la obra del siglo

September 2026