The final trek of the Red Line took us to a public garden: Jardin des Arenes which was created over the 1st Century Amphitheater of Vesunna in 1875.
The Amphitheater could seat 18,000 people and its façades were 3 times higher than the houses that surround it today.
In the 4thCentury the Amphitheater was incorporated within the High Wall with the openings being walled up and towers built to reinforce it. Around 1150 the Count of Périgord had his castle built here. Today there are still signs of the Amphitheater circling the garden and play areas. The floor of the Amphitheater lies 21 feet below (see above). The castle was destroyed in the early 1400’s.
Unfortunately, we did not have time to explore the final point of interest: the first Cathedral of Périgueux: Église Saint-Étienne-de-la-Cité. We wanted to head into the city center (next post) and explore there as well as see the new Cathedral. Périgueux is a city that we plan to return to. Not only is there more to see but it is also close to other towns that have their own stories to tell.
You know, darling Marcia, where I’d thought to just “like” this post and leave in silence, you took my breath away with one of the shots’ sheer romanticism. Gorgeous and wonderfully reflective, as awful as that is to say. The remains of great civilizations scream in our faces but we are duller than ditchwater and fall prey to the same demise as they knew, and just as blindly. Dearest me. Thank you for this!