This summer, come discover the true story of the Fréjus amphitheater, told by a guide
The first impressions of visitors—sometimes more than 500 a day—are unanimous: "Why all this concrete everywhere?" Some even admit their disappointment after admiring the Colosseum in Rome or even the arenas of Nîmes and Arles. But the history of the Fréjus amphitheater takes on its full meaning, as told by a guide.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, at 10:30 a.m. and then at 11:30 a.m., Maël Pardon, from the Fréjus Archaeology and Heritage Department, will once again passionately describe the creation, transformations and life of this site that has spanned the centuries.
"I wasn't expecting this concrete structure. It's shocking. But I understand better why we got to this point, and it's changed my perspective," a tourist replied after a fascinating hour.
"It all began with the construction of Forum Iulii, Julius's market in the first century BC. The emperors installed the garrison there, to become the third Roman military port, explained Maël Pardon . The city developed, and an amphitheater was necessary to mark the power of Rome. Made of sandstone from the Baume quarry, the building was majestic with its 112 m length, 82 m width, three levels of stands, its decorations and columns, its galleries to reach the vomitoria and the stairs leading to the floors, to the arena, the masonry parts of the Cavea which are supported by the natural relief and those resting on the radiating walls of the vaults."
"The Fréjus amphitheater could accommodate 10,000 spectators and people admired the well-paid gladiatorial combats, some of them very famous," she continued.
"The decline began in the third century AD and continued until the fifth, with the arrival of Christianity, which no longer wanted customs deemed barbaric. What would become of these stone giants? the specialist asked. In Arles and Nîmes, shops and craftsmen settled there, becoming part of the medieval towns, which preserved them. But here, the people of Fréjus used the amphitheater as a quarry and reused the stones for houses and the episcopal group. The road to Italy was paved with materials from the amphitheater, which even became a sheep pen. The town shrank from 70 hectares in the first century to 7 hectares in the Middle Ages."
The restoration, preservation and enhancement of the site were therefore not easy: the northern part was recreated for safety reasons, as it was necessary to make the place accessible to the public, for bullfights, concerts, etc.
The modern history of the amphitheater is thus particularly well traced with an exhibition to admire on the second level: Forty years of shows .
Numerous period photographs, articles on the visits of Johnny Halliday, Goldman, Police, Sting, Clegg… Even the group Queen and Tina Turner sang at the Fréjus arenas (a QR code allows you to listen to podcasts).
This summer, come and discover the secrets of the amphitheater and the 100% Roman visit of Forum Iulii with the tour guide from the Fréjus tourist office, Jérémy Haverbeque every Monday at 5 p.m.
Nice Matin
