Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls Religious Site

The Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls is a Roman-era amphitheatre and associated ceremonial complex in ancient Lugdunum, modern Lyon, France, dating to the early Imperial period. It is associated with the provincial council that represented the provinces of Roman Gaul.

The amphitheatre and the adjacent monument were established in the Roman period to serve Lugdunum as both a venue for public spectacles and a meeting place for the provincial council of the Three Gauls. Over the medieval and modern periods the site was partially buried and built over, and it has been subject to archaeological investigation and conservation.

The remains lie within the urban area of Lyon, in the part of the city that corresponds to the Roman-era administrative quarter. The site is accessible from central Lyon and is part of the city’s wider collection of Roman archaeological remains.

• Roman provincial assembly: Origins date to the Roman period when Lugdunum (modern Lyon) was the administrative centre of the Roman provinces in Gaul and hosted provincial assemblies.

What to See#

• Monument to the Three Gauls: A late Roman-period commemorative column and base erected to mark the Concilium or assembly of the Gallic provinces; fragments and reconstructions survive near the site.
• Archaeological site: The archaeological remains and foundations of the small amphitheatre and adjacent public spaces that formed part of Roman Lugdunum’s civic quarter.

The site is in Lyon (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). From Lyon city centre take local transport toward the Croix-Rousse/Fourvière areas; the minor archaeological sites around ancient Lugdunum are walkable from central points but check local maps for exact locations.

• The ruins are exposed - bring sun protection or an umbrella in summer.
• Combine a visit with other Roman Lyon sites (the Theatre of Fourvière) to get a sense of Lugdunum's civic geography.