Amphitheater of Lyon, Roman amphitheatre in Jardin des Plantes, Lyon, France
The Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls in Lyon is a Roman ruin set into the slope of La Croix-Rousse hill, within the Jardin des Plantes. Its surviving tiered stone rows and low walls curve around a flat, reddish-brown sand arena. A row of small stone blocks is set into the far boundary wall, and a tall cabin painted in pink, yellow and blue bands stands on the arena's right side.
The site was founded in the early 1st century and became an important structure for the whole region. A century later it was expanded to hold larger numbers of visitors from across the territories.
The amphitheater was where representatives from surrounding territories gathered for ceremonies and public events. Today its remains sit within a garden, showing how this place once drew crowds together.
The site is easily reached by bus lines that stop near the garden entrance in the first district. The walk from the bus stop to the amphitheater is straightforward and the garden is open to visitors year-round.
Some original structures like the northern entrance opening and foundation walls remain standing and show how builders worked back then. It is one of the few visible Roman structures of this type found in the city center.
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