Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, Lyon
Early Christians were martyred in the Amphitheater of the Three Gauls. Photo © Lyon.fr.
The Amphitheater of the Three Gauls (Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules) is the lesser known of two ancient Roman sites in Lyon. (The other is the Théâtres Romains de Fourvière complex near the basilica.) The amphitheater derives its name from ancient Lyon's role as the capital of the Three Gauls (Lugdunensis, Belgica, and Aquitania), three regions of Roman France.
At the time of its construction around 19 BC, the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules was the centerpiece of Condate, a Gallic village that predated the arrival of the Romans by centuries. It would have had room for 20,000 people at one time. Various accounts have members of Gallic tribes meeting here in the earliest example of a parliamentary system. Based on that information, France's 2,000th anniversary was celebrated in Lyon in 1989.
It was at this amphitheater that the first Christian martyrs in Lyon were thrown to the lions in 177 AD. The most famous martyr to suffer here was St. Blandine. According to tradition, Blandine was thrown into the amphitheatre with the lions, but they refused to eat her. The lions were replaced by a bull, which also refused to harm her. Finally, Roman soldiers took matters into their own hands and killed her with their swords.
Quick Facts
| Type of site: | Roman amphitheater; early Christian martyrdom site |
| Dates: | Built 19 BC; martyrdoms 177 AD |
| Location: | Near Lyon's northern perimeter, in Croix-Rousse |
| Metro stop: | Croix Paquet |
| Hours: | Unfortunately, the site is fenced in and you can view it only from the outside. |
Getting There
To get to the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, get off at the Croix Paquet Métro station, then take rue Burdeau west to rue du Jardin-des-Plantes.
Travel Resources
- Lyon Maps - our own interactive map plus links to more online maps
- Lyon Hostels - search and book budget lodgings
- Lyon Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Car Rentals in Lyon - explore France with a car picked up in Lyon
- Lyon Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Lyon tourism
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Lyon Map or get our free Google Earth download.
