Arles Amphitheatre
Arles amphitheater from the north, with one of the three medieval towers. | |
| Location | Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France |
|---|---|
| Type | Roman amphitheatre |
| Length | 136 m (446 ft) |
| Width | 109 m (358 ft) |
| Height | 21 m (69 ft) |
| History | |
| Founded | 90 AD |
| Periods | Roman Empire |
| Part of | Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv |
| Reference | 164 |
| Inscription | 1981 (5th Session) |
The Arles Amphitheatre (French: Arènes d'Arles; Occitan: Amfiteatre d'Arles) is a Roman amphitheatre in Arles, southern France. Two-tiered, it is probably the most prominent tourist attraction in the city which thrived in ancient Rome. The towers jutting out from the top are medieval add-ons.
Built in 90 AD, the amphitheatre held over 20,000 spectators of chariot races and bloody hand-to-hand battles. Nowadays, it draws smaller crowds for bullfighting during the Feria d'Arles, as well as plays and concerts in summer.
In 1981, Arles Amphitheatre was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with other Roman and medieval buildings of the city, as part of the Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments group.