The Palais Gallien, lost in the middle of a residential area, are the remains of an ancient amphitheatre that dates back to Roman times.

Some think that the site lays only in ruins, but if you look a little bit harder you can easily imagine the immensity of the complete structure.

You can access the site either by rue du Colisée or by rue du Dr Albert Barraud, but as soon as you set your eyes on these old walls you can only stop to appreciate it up close. The fact that the Palais Gallien is surrounded on all sides by eighteenth century houses creates a funny effect: one has the impression of being in a time capsule, or even in a living museum.

Even though part of the Palais Gallien is still in good condition, it seems the lifespan of the structure did not last very long. Built in Burdigala (the old name of Bordeaux) in the 2nd century, it turns out that it caught fire during raids a century later and was eventually abandoned.

It was named the ‘Palais Gallien’ through bad assumption that it was created in tribute to the Queen of Charlemagne, a native of Bordeaux, while we now know that the actual origins are Roman.

If you ever find yourself in the Jardin Public, it would be a real shame to miss the opportunity to see this historic monument, located just a stone’s throw away.