Cirque romain de la presqu'île
MonumentHidden Treasure
Cirque romain de la presqu'île, located in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.6737, 4.6190
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081516
A monumental vestige of Roman Gaul, the circus at Arles was one of the largest in the Empire. A venue for chariot races and shows, it bears witness to the splendour of Arelate, a major imperial city.
History
Buried beneath the lanes and gardens of the Arles peninsula, the Roman circus of Arles is one of the most fascinating and little-known ancient monuments in France. Although largely invisible on the surface, its excavated remains reveal a colossal structure whose dimensions rival those of the largest circuses in the Roman world. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1992, this exceptional archaeological site invites you to take a dizzying plunge back into Late Antiquity. Arelate - the Latin name for Arles - was one of the most prosperous cities in the Roman West, an imperial residence on several occasions and a strategic crossroads in the Mediterranean basin. Its circus, built at the southern end of the peninsula formed by the Rhône, was the centre of public life and leisure activities. The chariot races - the ludi circenses - attracted thousands of spectators in an atmosphere of collective exaltation, comparable to the great sporting arenas of today. A visit to this archaeological site is a unique experience: where a quiet district now stretches out, the imagination reconstructs the immense sanded track, the crowded stands, the central spina adorned with statues and obelisks, the carriages launched at full speed amid the deafening din of the crowd. Excavations carried out since the 19th century have unearthed imposing foundations, carved limestone blocks and numerous architectural features, providing a partial reconstruction of the edifice. The setting of the Arles peninsula adds a special dimension to the discovery: just a few hundred metres away are the arena, the ancient theatre, Constantine's baths and the Alyscamps necropolis - making Arles one of the densest and best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in France, recognised as such by UNESCO. The circus is thus part of a unique monumental journey, where each step reveals a new layer in the history of Western civilisation.
Architecture
The Roman circus at Arles had the elongated layout typical of this type of building in the Roman world: a long, straight track terminating at one end in carceres (starting boxes for horse-drawn carriages) and at the other in a rounded curve, the hemicycle. The total length of the building is estimated at between 400 and 450 metres and a width of around 100 metres, making it one of the largest public monuments in Arelate. The central track was divided by the spina, a low wall adorned with statues, obelisks, metae and counters showing the number of laps completed by the carriages. The tiers, built of local limestone and brick, rested on a network of vaults and masonry substructures, several sections of which were found during the excavations. These massive foundations, in opus incertum and opus vittatum typical of Roman construction in southern Gaul, bear witness to the solidity and care taken in building the edifice. The large blocks unearthed show evidence of careful cutting and, in some cases, dedicatory inscriptions. The capacity of the circus is estimated at around 20,000 spectators, a figure in line with the population of Arelate in the 2nd century.
Related Figures
Jules César — fondateur indirect d'Arelate, dont la colonisation rendit possible l'émergence d'une grande cité romaineConstantin Ier — empereur qui résida à Arles et sous le règne duquel le cirque connut son plus grand fasteConstant — fils de Constantin, lui aussi résident de la cour impériale arlésienneFernand Benoit — archéologue provençal du XXe siècle ayant contribué aux premières études systématiques des monuments romains d'ArlesHenri Rolland — archéologue ayant mené des fouilles importantes à Arles et contribué à la connaissance du cirque
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cirque romain de la presqu'île located?
Cirque romain de la presqu'île is located in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
Is Cirque romain de la presqu'île open to visitors?
Cirque romain de la presqu'île is currently closed to visitors.