Windisch Roman Amphitheatre

Windisch, Switzerland

The Roman amphitheatre in Windisch was built in the first half of the 1st century AD in the immediate vicinity of the Roman legion camp Vindonissa. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre in Switzerland.

During the reign of Emperor Tiberius (14 to 37 AD), when the Legio XIII Gemina was stationed in Vindonissa, a first wooden amphitheatre was built. It was destroyed by fire around 45 AD.

The camp was rebuilt of stone around 50 AD by Legio XXI Rapax and it has been preserved until today. The outer wall was 111 × 99 meters, the arena 64 × 52 meters. There was space for around 11,000 spectators.

Address

Amphirain 2, Windisch, Switzerland

See all sites in Windisch

Details

Founded: c. 50 AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Switzerland

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Stein Castle (7 km)
Landvogteischschloss (7,3 km)
Königsfelden Monastery (0,5 km)
Willdegg Castle (7 km)
Vindonissa Museum (1,1 km)

Kapellbrücke (47,8 km)
Wasserkirche (27,5 km)
Grossmünster (27,5 km)
Fraumünster (27,4 km)
St. Peter's Church (27,2 km)
Jesuit Church (47,8 km)
Swiss National Museum (26,8 km)
Lindenhof Hill (27,2 km)
Laufen Castle (37,5 km)

User Reviews

William Stemwell III (5 months ago)
Enjoyed the self guided learning visuals while spending as much time as we wanted in the area. I wish we had brought lunch for a picnic.

Bernardo Lamere (6 months ago)
a simple place but with a lot of history. more than 2000 years of history…

Thamarai Kannan (10 months ago)
Extraordinary historical event... Proud to be viewed...

Christian Rohner (2 years ago)
Great trip to the past. Very informative with hands-on exhibits. Food and drinks available, too.

Marianna Weaver (2 years ago)
Beautiful ruins

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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.