If you love history and want to discover great sites during your visit in Paris, give the Arènes de Lutèce (‘Arenas of Lutetia’) a try. Totally off-the-beaten-path, the Arenas were a truly unexpected highlight.
Located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, the Arènes de Lutèce are the ruins of an ancient Gallo-Roman amphitheater. The ruins date back to the Gallo-Roman era, when Paris was called Lutetia (‘Lutèce’ in French). With the ‘Thermes de Cluny’, it is the last vestige of the Roman presence in Paris. The Arenas of Lutetia served as a public theater but also as an arena for gladiatorial combats and animal fights; and could host up to 17,000 spectators. The Arenas were built in the 1st century AD, but were only discovered in 1869 during the construction of the new street “Rue Monge”. It is the oldest monument in Paris (after the obelisk of the Concorde, which is technically not a French monument but an Egyptian one).
Unfortunately, only small parts of the Arènes de Lutèce’s vestiges remain today. The Arenas are way much smaller than they were back in the 1st century.
In 1883, famous writer Victor Hugo led a campaign to save the last vestiges of the Arenas. In 1896, the Arenas eventually opened to the public and became a public park. The Arènes de Lutèce are now used by many local children playing football and elderly playing the “boules” (‘pétanque’ in French).
Our opinion
The Arènes de Lutèce are off-the-beaten-path and you won’t see many (if any!) tourists there. Although it is located near the popular rue Mouffetard, one of the best pedestrian streets in Paris, only a few know about it (it is almost unknown amongst many Parisians too!). Maybe because it ain’t easy to find the site (the Arenas are hidden behind a small entrance on Rue Monge). It isn’t an impressive arena such as the Arenas of Nîmes or Arles but it definitely deserves to be seen if you’re nearby.
Price? Free.
Where? 49 rue Monge, in the 5th arrondissement.
Access? Place Monge station (Metro line 7) and Jussieu station (Metro lines 7 and 10).
When? Every day from 8-9am to 5-9pm depending on the season.
Book your Latin Quarter experience in Paris now
You visited this place? Share your pic on Instagram, mention @paris_kathmandu & tag #paris_kathmandu