Arènes de Lutèce

Constructed in the 1st century AD during the Gallo-Roman era when Paris was known as Lutèce (Lutetia). Unearthed in 1869 during road excavations and saved from destruction by a public petition led by author Victor Hugo.

The ancient Roman bedrock of Paris, where gladiators fought and theatrical tragedies echoed two thousand years before the modern metropolis arose.

Subterranean gladiator cages (carceres) were believed to connect via secret underground passages to ancient Roman villas on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève.