In Roman times, the building could hold 24,000 spectators, who were spread over 34 tiers of terraces divided into four self-contained zones or maeniana.

The advent of early medieval Christianity marked the end of these events, prompting the transformation of the amphitheater into a fortress and subsequently a walled town.

Roman amphitheatres first appeared in Southern Italy in the second century BC and were specifically designed for putting on spectacular combats between gladiators or animal fights.

The empire was torn apart by civil wars, the barbarians became more frightening and epidemics made the whole situation worse.

As a sign of this renewal, in 1194, the Count of Toulouse authorized its vassals in Nîmes to build a new city wall, whose layout corresponded more or less to the boulevards of the town that we see today.

Influenced by the ideas of the Renaissance, King Francis I wanted to get the amphitheatre back its ancient appearance, but all that was done at that time was to clear away the buildings from the first floor gallery.

Only two walled arcades with their medieval windows have been preserved, opposite the Palace of Justice, providing us with a reminder of that period.

The statue of French matador Christian Montcouquiol, known as Nimeño II, stands at the entrance, called "Hero".

[4] American heavy metal band Metallica recorded their DVD, Français Pour Une Nuit, on July 7, 2009.

In 2022 German DJ Boris Brejcha performed in the arena at an event organised by Cercle Music [es].