Bordeaux is a city rich in history and heritage, offering many tourist sites to discover. One of the most fascinating places is the Palais Gallien, a Roman amphitheater located in the heart of the city. Built in the 2nd century, this historical monument is the oldest and largest Gallo-Roman building in the region. Its stone and marble structure is impressive, offering a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Roman era. In this article, we’ll explore the history of the Gallian Palace, its cultural significance, and how to plan a visit to experience this architectural marvel in person.
The Palais Gallien is a historical monument located in the city of Bordeaux in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, known in particular for its wine. It is a former Roman amphitheatre built during the second century AD. The Palais Gallien is a building that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Want to discover more? Book your seat for the VisioTour bus on our online ticketing service! You can find more information and prices on our website.
The amphitheatre is named after Gallien, but the origin of this name remains a mystery. Two hypotheses remain very likely. The first is that a group of monks were passing through the city and discovered the amphitheatre abandoned. They thought it was an abandoned palace built by Charlemagne for his wife Gallienne.
The other hypothesis details that the name was given in honour of Gallienne, wife of Cenebrun (qualified as the first king of Bordeaux). He would have built this Colosseum in honour of his wife.
The palace was built to accommodate over 22,000 spectators and was used for various events including gladiatorial fights, animal hunts and theatrical performances.
While the Palais Gallien is now fully integrated into the city of Bordeaux, it was not at that time. It was located just outside the city walls of Burdigala (the name of Bordeaux at the time). To get there, you had to leave the suburb through the Porte de Dijeaux and take a Roman road that no longer exists today.
The Palais Gallien was built in the 2nd century AD, during the period of Roman rule in Bordeaux. It was built as an amphitheatre for various public events. It was considered one of the most important buildings in the city.
During the Frankish invasion of Gaul between 275 and 276 the building was irreparably damaged. In the end, the arena was only used for 10 years. In 276, the Franks burned the arena for two days. As a result, most of the wooden supports were reduced to ashes, leaving only the stone walls.
Over the centuries, the Gallian Palace has undergone many changes in its use and ownership. In the Middle Ages the palace was used as a quarry for building materials and in the 16th century it was used as a fortress.
During the French Revolution, the amphitheatre was used as a place of execution and many people were guillotined there. Later, the palace was used again as a quarry, and many stones were taken from it to build other structures in the city.
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The Gallien Palace is a remarkable example of ancient Roman architecture. It is built in the shape of an ellipse and is surrounded by a wall more than one metre thick. The amphitheatre has two levels of seating, the lower level being divided into 72 arches.
The walls of the amphitheatre are made of limestone blocks held together by iron clamps. The exterior of the amphitheatre was decorated with statues and columns typical of Roman architecture.
It was designed to allow air to circulate and was equipped with a drainage system to avoid flooding in case of heavy rain. The amphitheatre was also equipped with several rooms, including a dressing room, a storage room and a room for animals.
Today, the Gallien Palace is open to the public and visitors can explore its ancient ruins and discover its fascinating history. The palace is a popular tourist attraction in Bordeaux, attracting visitors from all over the world every year.
It has undergone several restoration and conservation works over the years to preserve its ancient ruins. Don’t wait any longer to come and discover this magnificent monument for a visit!
You can visit the palace all year round. It is located in the Fondaudège district, near the rue du Colisée. It is possible to organise a visit every day between 10:30 and 15:30 during the summer (from June 1st to September 30th) or to book your tickets the rest of the year. It is also possible to visit in the evening from 9.30pm every Saturday during the summer period. Practical information on the Bordeaux tourist office website.
Over the years, the Gallien palace has undergone several restoration and conservation works, the walls of the palace have been reinforced and many original elements have been restored.
Want to discover this monument? The Gallien amphitheater is open for visits all year round, you can explore the ancient ruins of the amphitheater and discover its history through the ages. If you want to learn more about the history of Bordeaux and its little secrets, don’t hesitate to book your tickets to board our red panoramic bus that will take you on a tour of the whole city of Bordeaux. You will travel on the right bank of the Garonne to discover the ecosystem of the Darwin district. Crossing the Chaban-Delmas bridge, you will visit the left bank of the Garonne. You can learn more thanks to the audio guides on board the bus. Are you visiting Bordeaux with children or teenagers? The comments are made by a historian and his speech is adapted to his audience. During 70 minutes, you will have the pleasure to contemplate Bordeaux from a height of more than 4 meters to admire the Grand Théâtre, the Aquitaine Museum or the Pey Berland Tower.
Book now your next visit of Bordeaux on board our visiotour.
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