As promised, I decided to get up early this morning (Sunday-sleep in day!) and take some photos of ‘Les Arènes de Lutèce’. What an amazing place!, It can be found at 49 Rue Monge/Rues des Arènes Paris 75005 (Metro Cardinal-Lemoine) and like most of the points of interest on my blog, it’s free.
les Arènes de Lutèce was one of the biggest fighting arenas in Paris or Lutèce as it was called back when the Arena was made, probably beginning of the 2nd Century. It is thought that there were another six in Paris, but unfortunately have since disappeared.
When you walk into the Arena it is quite impressive,(even my 11 year old daughter who thinks Hannah Montana is the best thing in the whole world, was actually quite gob-smacked!) firstly you notice the huge cast iron doors of the two lion cages that were the highlight of any Gladiator fight. Then looking up you will see just how huge the place is. It is estimated (by the ville de Paris) that probably 17000 people could sit and watch somebody being ripped apart by a starving lion…beats watching ‘Come Dancing!!’. The walls are 2.50 metres high and there is a small stage that is 42 metres long.
If you are planning to go and have a look, I strongly recommend going on a Sunday morning, as no one ever seems to go in the morning. I found that if you shut your eyes your imagination starts to run wild, and you can almost hear the clashing of the swords and the lions growling, try it!.
Google Map (please click on link)
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