Arenas of Nimes

The Arènes of Nimes are a Roman Amphithéâtre built in the French city of Nimes in the Gard (then the colonia nemausus of the province of Narbonnaise of the Empire Romain) under the reign of Auguste in 27 AC to be used as Amphithéâtre, then being used as village strengthened at the time of the Great invasions, then reconverted in arenas for bullfights in 1863. They accommodate a score of Corrida S and annual races camarguaises and various cultural events (concerts, historical reconstitutions…). Apart from these events the building accommodates tourists all the year.

The building has a 133 101 meters meters elliptic, long and broad structure and has a capacity of: 13000 sitted places.

History

They were built between 50 a. J. - C and 100 a. J. - C, on the model of the Roman Colisée. The arenas had a capacity of 25.000 spectators divided into four zones and thirty-four platforms. The Amphitheater measurement 133 meters length for 101 meters broad and 21 meters in height, and the main roads of the arena measure 69 meters for 38 meters of small axis.

It had two stages of 60 arcades overhung of a attic. The Amphithéâtre counted 34 lines of steps.

At the time of the Roman , the notaries sitting with the first steps (Cavea ) had their name engraved in the stone, thus their place was reserved.

At the time of the Great invasions of the late Antiquity, the population took refuge in the enclosure of the building which is then used as village strengthened which contained two churches, 220 houses, as well as a small fortification.

Today, the arenas are used for many spectacles, in particular bullfights, for which it is necessary to add stage performances and concerts. These arenas are best preserved at the world. Since 2006, the site is managed as a public service delegation by Culturespaces; a new visit makes it possible to the tourist of the whole world to discover the history of the amphitheater of Nimes, thanks to a audioguide in eight languages, teaching panels illustrated and two cells: the first on the district of the gladiators ( FAC simile of weapons, of helmets which the visitors can touch, extracted from film, optical theater…) and the second on the bullfighting. The monument is visited all the year.

Gallery of images

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