Fourvière Roman Theatre, Lyon, France

The Roman theatre is a Roman ancient structure in Lyon built on the hill of Fourvière, which is located in the center of the Roman city.

The theatre was built in two steps: around 15 BC, a theatre with a 90 m diameter was built next to the hill. At the beginning of the 2nd century, the final construction added a last place for the audience. The diameter is 108 m, and there were seats for 10,000 people.

Having been well restored in the early twentieth century, the Grand Roman Theatre of Lyon is one of the oldest structures of its kind and a reminder of Lugdunum, the Gallo-Roman city which would become Lyon. The site was generally abandoned by the third century AD.

Behind the theatre are further ruins, possibly the remains of the Temple of Cybele. The Grand Roman Theatre of Lyon is now used for performances. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lyon.

Nowadays, the theatre is primarily a tourist site, but it is still used as a cultural venue. Each year, the Nuits de Fourvière festival takes place in the theatre.

User Reviews

UnDiplomatic Wife (10 months ago)
Very interesting Roman ruin in French Lyon. It’s a nice place to hang out when the weather is good. The museum is a must to appreciate the history of the place.

Cristian Contreras (10 months ago)
The Roman theater boasts impressive architecture, showcasing the grandeur of ancient construction. Unfortunately, a live music event was taking place on the stage, which made it challenging to capture clear photographs of the site. Nevertheless, the historical significance and beauty of the theater are undeniable, and it remains a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and architecture admirers. Despite the temporary inconvenience, the ambiance created by the live performance added a unique charm to the experience.

anthony M (10 months ago)
What an amazing place to visit. I have been here a few times and will still come back one day to watch a concert. Easy to get to with a train station nearby. Clean and historical, amazing views of lyon. A little difficult to walk up if you have mobility problems but it is accessible to wheelchair users in certain areas. Also in walking distance to the nearby cathedral. Recommended

Mandy Davies (11 months ago)
Amazing place! The museum is so massive it's tricky where you are! The mosaics are beautiful, and many of them are intact. The amphitheatre is well worth seeing - much bigger and more dramatic than we were expecting.

Daniel White (11 months ago)
There was a lot of construction going on, but it was a cool site. Don’t miss the museum (I think it was 8€ per adult). It is a beautiful architectural design where you start at the top and wind your way down through the exhibits. The lowest level has a kids play area / discovery zone too. Many of the descriptions are only in French so you can use your iPhone camera to take pictures and use the text translate function to read the descriptions if desired.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

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Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Fourvière Roman Theatre

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