Cryptoportiques d'Arles, Underground Roman galleries in Arles, France
The Cryptoportiques d'Arles are three parallel underground tunnels arranged in a U-shape beneath the ancient Roman forum. These chambers with their massive stone vaults form a complex network of passageways that provided structural support for the forum above.
This structure was created in the first century BC as foundational elements of the Roman forum to stabilize the terrain. It was later expanded and adapted during Roman rule to serve changing needs of the growing city.
The galleries reveal how Romans used underground spaces for storage and commerce in daily life. Today visitors can observe the characteristic stone construction methods that made this practical use of space possible.
Access is through a modern reception building that helps orient you as you enter. The underground rooms are cool and sometimes narrow, so bring comfortable shoes and a light jacket.
The tunnels reveal the layering of two cities: the floor sits roughly 20 feet (6 meters) below modern Arles' street level. This shows how much the city has accumulated and evolved over centuries.
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