This is the oldest vestige of human settlement on the lands of Paris still visible in the capital. The Lutetia arenas, after the Concorde obelisk (dating from the 13ᵉ century BC and imported to Paris in 1836), are the city’s oldest monument. In fact, if you stroll through the 5ᵉ arrondissement, just behind the Jardin des Plantes, you’ll come across a Gallo-Roman amphitheater dating back to the 1st century. As there were thousands of them in Gaulish times, this amphitheater hosted theatrical performances, and gladiatorial combat. Total capacity is estimated at 17,000 spectators! At the time, Lutetia was home to some 20,000 inhabitants: almost the entire population of the city flocked to the arena.
A brief history of the Lutetia arenas
The arenas were probably used in Paris from their construction until the first destruction of Lutetia in the 3ᵉ century. These were, however, repaired in the 6ᵉ century by the Merovingians to accommodate shows. Today, little remains of the arenas, the first rows of grandstands (the cavea in Latin), the round stage, as well as the foundations of the surrounding walls and the niches that allowed sound to diffuse throughout the entire arena. These niches are the imposing columns you see above. Today, benches are installed in what remains of the enclaves, as you can see below on the right of the image.
The arena was used occasionally throughout the centuries of Parisian history, until it was buried, certainly in the 17th century. Their location was forgotten until the late 1800s. The first discoveries were made in 1869. But in the 1880s, the Compagnie Générale des Omnibus, wishing to build a tramway depot on the site, unwillingly allowed the entire ruins of the arena to be rediscovered. Victor Hugo and others spoke out in favor of preserving the arena in the face of this project, and the government finally purchased the remains and classified them as a historic monument in 1884. Excavations continued until the end of the First World War, but the construction of buildings on rue Monge prevented 100% of the excavations from being completed.
After their discovery, the arenas became… an open-air basketball stadium! Several competitions are held here, including the final of the French championship. In 1927, the national team played there for the first time in front of 4,000 spectators, and continued to do so until 1951. Today, the Lutetia arenas are a pleasant garden where Parisians come to soak up the sun, play pétanque or soccer, and where neighborhood parties are held. Where wild beasts and gladiators fought 2,000 years ago.