The Roman amphitheatre in Arles, created as a place of spectacle and entertainment, at the end of VI century was turned into a fortress and today it is the largest in the city's oldest building with the highest degree of safety.

It was built sometime in the first century and could accommodate up to 25 thousand spectators. In his appearance was reproduced the image of a classical Roman amphitheatre – like the Colosseum, which was built in the first century, but was more roomy – it housed up to 50 thousand people.

The width of the amphitheatre in Arles was 107 meters, a length of 136 meters and a height of 20 meters. In the construction of the amphitheatre were 60 arched openings, four of which were wider than the others (about five meters), served as the main entrance. For the audience it was intended 34 tiers of seats.

At the end of VI century the appearance and assignment of the amphitheater, has been changed from laid some arched openings and built four towers. Arena for Gladiator fights, became the town square, and inside the amphitheatre were built two chapels and several dozen homes. Tenants from the amphitheatre began only after ten centuries on the orders of king Francis I, who during his visit to Arles saw what the condition of the remains of the ancient structure, but it only ended in the first half of the nineteenth century.

The further fate of the amphitheater adopted by prosper mérimée, who was not only a talented writer but also an inspector of historical monuments and has worked on developing the register of historic monuments. During the restoration of this monument was dismantled one of the four towers.

Currently Arles amphitheatre, as with the Romans, served as a venue for spectacular events – performances, Opera performances and bullfights. The amphitheatre is surrounded by a dense buildings of later construction, and the tower at the entrance overlooking the neighborhoods of Arles.