10 Incredible Ancient Roman Ruins in France
Having been inhabited by the Romans for many centuries, France became the birthplace of several Roman cities and home to plenty of Roman ruins and artifacts, making it a fantastic place to learn about Roman history outside of Italy.
From ancient Roman arenas to Roman temples and necropolises, you can find many fascinating Roman ruins across France—including some of the best-preserved ruins in Europe.
So, if you want to know which places in France have traces of Roman antiquity, check out this list!
10 Amazing Roman History Sites in France
1. Pont du Gard
Along the Gardon River stands the massive Pont du Gard—one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world and the only example of an ancient three-tier bridge still standing today.
This 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct with three layers and about 64 arches, which was a great achievement at the time, is an excellent example of an ancient architectural masterpiece.
It was built in the first century by the Romans to supply water to their colony, Nemauses (now Nîmes), which was undergoing significant urban development at that time.
This aqueduct used to supply running water all the way from the springs in Uzès to the town’s fountains and spas, as well as to the wealthy people’s residences for over five centuries.
Today, you can walk across the lower levels of this 160-foot-tall (49-meter) bridge and admire the impressive work of a thousand-strong workforce that completed this colossal project in just five years.
Walking past the east side of the bridge will also introduce you to old caves (more like overhangs), which show traces of human habitation from over 19,000 years ago.
2. Nîmes
Nîmes, a small city in southern France, is the country’s hidden gem of Roman antiquity. Dubbed the “French Rome,” it holds incredible Roman history, including relics and ruins that date back to the first century when the Romans used the city as the main trade route between Italy and Spain.
Easily one of the most incredible landmarks in Provence is the Arena of Nîmes (Arènes de Nîmes), considered the best-preserved Roman arena outside Italy. Like Rome’s Colosseum, it was a venue for gladiator fights and animal hunts.
They also have the first-century Magne Tower (Tour Magne), which was part of the Roman walls and was the lookout point over the Via Domitia—the first Roman road built in Gaul.
Just below it is the first-century Temple of Diana, which, oddly enough, was not an actual temple nor associated with Diana.
Finally, there’s the Maison Carrée, a remarkably well-preserved ancient temple similar to Rome’s Pantheon. Over the years, it has functioned as a temple, church, city hall, art gallery, and now a Roman monument.
3. Arles
Another southern French city known for its Roman history is Arles. Its Roman monuments were built 2,000 years ago when the Romans invaded Provence. Today, these monuments are protected under the UNESCO World Heritage List.
It has its own Arles Arena (Arènes d’Arles), which used to hold chariot races and gladiator fights.
When Barbarians attacked, the people of Arles took refuge and built over 200 houses at the empty center of the arena—many historians believe that this event has helped save the arena from destruction. Today, it holds concerts, bullfights, and community events.
They also have the Roman Theatre (Le Théâtre Antique) that unfortunately suffered the same fate as many ruins; only two of its columns (called Two Windows), orchestra section, stage area, and semi-circular seating remain today.
Another important Roman sight in the city is the Cryptoporticus, arches built as semi-underground foundations for the Roman Forum in Arles. The forum is long gone, but the underground arches and pillars remain.
Additionally, there are the Alyscamps (Roman necropolis/cemetery), the remains of the Baths of Constantine, and the Departmental Museum of Arles Antiquity, which holds many Roman artifacts from the region. Truly, Arles is unmatched for the number of Roman history sites it contains.
4. La Turbie
La Turbie is a small town on the French Riviera known for its picturesque setting overlooking Monaco and, of course, for its small share of Roman history. The village got its name from the Latin word “tropaeum,” meaning trophy, referring to the erected monument of Caesar Augustus in town.
The Trophy of Augustus (La Trophée d’Auguste) monument is THE main attraction in the town. It was built by the Romans around 6 BC to commemorate the victories of the then-Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, over the tribes of Liguria.
After the Fall of the Roman Empire, this enormous 49-meter-tall (now only 36-meter) monument was destroyed and sacked, and it wasn’t restored until the 1850s.
Today, you can explore the monument by walking from the square base of the ruins all the way to the columns on top. There’s also a small museum in the vicinity that highlights its historical background and features some relics from the monument.
5. Nice
Nice may be famous for its Mediterranean beaches, but little do people know that Nice, particularly the Cimiez neighborhood, was once a Roman city (known as Cemenelum) and home to several Roman ruins.
Although most of it remains buried and unearthed under the current upscale residential neighborhood, there is an area in the town where you can see some traces of Roman antiquities.
On the northern part of the town are the ruins of Roman public baths and amphitheater, which is now part of the archeological museum (Musée d’Archéologie de Nice). Archaeologists believe these ruins date from the first to the seventh century, mainly from the third century.
Aside from traces of Roman baths and portions of the amphitheater, you can find a variety of artifacts at the nearby museum building, such as jewels, pottery, and tools, that were discovered during excavations.
Read More: 24 Incredible Things to Do in Nice
6. Arènes de Lutèce in Paris
If you’re traveling in Paris, you don’t need to go far to see a piece of Roman history. Right at the heart of Paris, in the bustling Latin Quarter, is Arènes de Lutèce. It’s an ancient Roman arena that was also used as an amphitheater to hold gladiator fights for over two centuries.
Over the next centuries, it was gradually buried in the ground when it was used as a cemetery and when the construction of the wall of Phillipe Auguste took place. It was only around the 1860s when it was unexpectedly rediscovered when the city sought to build a tramway at the site.
Today, you can visit the ancient Roman arena and explore its remnants, including the arena floor and the remaining sections of its terraced seating, and is an incredible hidden gem in Paris.
7. Orange
Orange is another Provençal village colonized by the Romans in 35 BC and became the place for their soldiers to retire and farm the land. During that time, they built several infrastructures, with two of them still standing today.
One of these is the Ancient Theatre of Orange (Théâtre antique d’Orange). It was first built between 10 and 25 AD to hold 10,000 spectators for plays and shows. It has an enormous, 3 story stage wall that is the best-preserved stage wall in the West.
King Louis VIX (known as the “Sun King”) even declared it the “finest wall in the kingdom.” Today, it holds operas and concerts.
The Arc de Triomphe in Orange was built around 20 AD to celebrate the power and victories of the Roman Empire. It marked the main entrance to the ancient city and features three bays across three levels, commemorating Roman military strength and success.
Today, it stands as one of the most interesting and beautiful examples of a triumphal arch in the entire Augustus region.
8. Aix en Provence
Aix en Provence, located in southern France, is known as the “city of a thousand fountains.” (FYI, there are only about 100 fountains in the city today). Everywhere you go, you will find fountains of different sizes and styles, hence the name.
The Romans founded the city and brought water to it via an aqueduct. As soon as they discovered that there was a thermal spring in the area, they immediately installed Roman baths alongside several fountains in Aix-en-Provence, formerly known as Aquae Sextiae (The Waters of Sextius).
Historically, the locals used the fountains to wash clothes and as drinking fountains for farm animals. Today, they still function as drinking fountains, and some restaurants also use them to cool down wine during the summer months.
The largest and most famous fountain in the city is the La Rotonde, which acts as the centerpiece of the old town.
9. Lyon
Lyon was originally founded as the Roman city of Lugdunum in 43 BC, chosen for its strategic location on Fourvière Hill. It became one of the most important Roman settlements in Gaul, and many of the city’s most significant Roman ruins can still be found on and around that hill today.
The two Roman sites in Lyon are the theater and the odeon. The Roman Theater was built in 15 BC to host plays and public entertainment. It once seated over 10,000 spectators and is still used today for concerts and events, including the annual Les Nuits de Fourvière festival.
Just beside it sits the Odeon, a smaller amphitheater that held around 3,000 people and was used for poetry readings, speeches, and music.
Both the theater and the odeon are completely open to the public and free to explore, making them not only impressive archaeological sites, but nice places for people to come hang out on a warm summer’s night.
The Lugdunum Museum is one of the best places in France to dive into Roman history, and it is right next to the theater and odeon.
Their collection is excellent, with thousands of artifacts, sculptures, mosaics, and everyday objects from Roman Lugdunum on display. I particularly loved the mosaics—many are impressively intact and incredibly detailed.
10. Bordeaux
Did you know that the wine-growing industry in Bordeaux originally came from the Romans? It started 2,000 years ago when the Romans recognized how good the soil in Bordeaux was for grape growing.
They quickly established vineyards across the city and cultivated wine for their soldiers. That amazing discovery resulted in Bordeaux and the surrounding villages and countryside becoming one of the most famous wine regions in the world.
Read More: How to Visit Saint Emilion – One of Bordeaux’s Wine Growing Villages
Aside from that, Bordeaux is also famous for its own collection of Roman artifacts. At the heart of the city sits the ruins of Palais Gallien, an ancient Roman amphitheater similar to the ones in Nîmes and Arles.
They also have the UNESCO World Heritage Saint-Seurin Necropolis and archeological site, which has tombs from both Roman and Medieval periods. These tombs contain several artifacts, such as bone combs, ceramics, coins, and glass vials, among others.
Interestingly, the people of Bordeaux continue to randomly discover Roman artifacts throughout the city. For example, the Roman tombs and some 300 skeletons under Bordeaux streets were unearthed just a few years ago during road construction projects. You can see many of these Roman relics at Musée d’Aquitaine.
The Wrap Up
If you’re fascinated by the Roman Empire, France should definitely be on your travel list. As you can see, you can find amazing Roman ruins all over the country, from the towering Pont du Gard to the impressive Arènes de Nîmes. All of these spots are visually stunning and are full of fascinating history.
