Nîmes Romaine / Arènes - Maison Carrée - Tour Magne
the 2010-05-27
Report of the Great Roman Games 2010
On 17 and 18 April 2010, the first Great Roman Games were held in the Nîmes Arena. In brilliant sunshine, 250 actors performed circus games (chariot races, gladiator fights, etc.) in front of the visitors.
The event was considered a great success.
Over the weekend, the Arena welcomed 17,227 visitors.
To see photographs of the event, visit our Photo Gallery.
Don’t miss the 2011 event on 23, 24 and 25 April
Advance bookings open in January 2011
WHAT THE PRESS SAID
“Close your eyes and imagine the clamour of 25,000 excited spectators in the 1st century AD. Two thousand years later, the arena is still the beating heart of Nîmes. You have to take a deep breath and scale the terraces to appreciate its extraordinary size. Vertigo guaranteed!”
Télé Poche, 8/04/10
“Placed under the auspices of the festival, this weekend is nothing like Astérix and the Romans. Unlike most lavish historical pseudo re-enactments, it was more like experimental archaeology, a way of bringing something to life in an attempt to rediscover ancient customs.”
Patrimoinedefrance.fr, 10/04/10
“How is Roman civilisation doing in Nîmes? Alive and well, if the success of the first Great Roman Games is to be believed! From ten o’clock on Saturday morning, the town buzzed with non-stop events for 24 hours. And attracted nearly 15,000 people of all ages over two days to the Square House and the amphitheatre.
Midi Libre, 18/04/10
“A triumphant debut for the Roman Games. The public turned out en masse to see the workshops, the procession of the Emperor Hadrian and the grand performance in the afternoon. Managed by Culturespaces for the last four years, the arena has rarely seen a performance of this magnitude. This is the first year in which the Great Roman Games have been organised, and they really drew the crowds. (…) The success was real and this return to the past appears to have a future.”
Midi Libre, 18/04/10
“Over two days the Gallic residents of Nîmes and the “narbonnaise” region gave a rapturous reception to the Roman games organised in the city’s arena. More than 20,000 people watched the re-enactment of the arrival of the Emperor Hadrian at Nemausus in 122 AD.”
La Dépêche, 19/04/10
View the report by 19/20 on France 3 from Friday 16 April
View the report by JT at 1pm on France 2 from Friday 16 April
View the report by Maternelles on France 5 from 14 April
SOME VISITORS’ COMMENTS
“This event was really worth the trip, lots to see and do, I’m from here myself but even I didn’t manage to see everything in 2 days, it was such fun.”
Khalidenimes
“I’m amazed by the accuracy of the historical re-enactment, they really made an effort to get it right, it’s spot on,” Philippe R.
“I was at the arena yesterday afternoon for the show. Bravo, it was superb. I think that generally the public liked it a lot. Amazing to see so many people from elsewhere in the Nîmes Arena! I guess you couldn’t help but enjoy yourself because you couldn’t ask for a better setting than an ancient arena.”
Forum of the Via Romana re-enactment group
“I thought I was dreaming but now I have proof, I really was there.”
Forum of the XXII Bavay group
“I was impressed by the quality of the actors, their costumes, and their efforts to be authentic. In the arena, the public really got involved and interacted with those I can hardly call actors. I think this event has a great future as long as it evolves and refreshes itself with the aid of the people of Nîmes. Personally speaking, I had a wonderful day out with the family, which makes me want to come back a bit earlier and stay a bit longer and explore the city of Nîmes.”
Tinirau in response to an article in Midi Libre
“For me, the most I learned is that the Gauls were quite something! I had never seen any ‘in the flesh’. The realism was fantastic!”
Esperanza (Spain)
“A magnificent voyage back in time”
Anna (Brazil)
“Unique show, sensational costumes!”
Camilla (Argentina)
“I thought it was a magnificent day out! I knew that Nîmes was a Roman city but as the city has been modernised, I didn’t really feel it. However, thanks to this festival, I can feel it now and I can imagine that they were much better off then!”
Taka (Japan)
ROMAN NIMES
Worth the journey
The Arena, the Square House and the Magne Tower belong to the city of Nîmes and have been managed by Culturespaces since 2006.