Palais Gallien

A few steps away from the city centre, the palace is the oldest vestige in Bordeaux!

It was built in the Second Century in Bordeaux and was abandoned towards the end of the Antiquity period.

Standing in front of it, it's a little difficult to imagine the roars of wild beasts and the triumphant cries of gladiators. On its now-vanished wooden bleachers, 20,000 spectators—twice the city's population at the time—could watch the games.

A monumental gate still stands, and some arches and wall remnants are embedded in gardens, surrounding houses, and even in cellars!

In the Middle Ages, it became a quarry, leading to the destruction of most parts of the monument.

In the 17th century, the Palais Gallien became a refuge for thieves and prostitutes... rumours even claimed it was a meeting place for witches before a revolutionary-era mayor turned it into a public quarry for rocks and sand.