3 Best Sights in France

Leaning against the northern end of St-Siffrein Cathedral, this ancient triumphal arch—a last vestige of this once-thriving Roman town—dates from the 1st century AD and was built to commemorate the victory of Rome over the barbarians. Notice the fine sculpted columns and figures of two captive warriors (said to be a German and a Parthian or a Hellenistic king) carved into either side of the arc.

Further testimony to Senlis’s long and rich history (brilliantly mapped out in the Musée d’Art et d’Archéologie), these circular arenas dating from the first century are unique in northern France. Gallo-Roman spectators enjoyed gladiator fights here until their prohibition in the fifth century, when the circular amphitheater reverted to concerts, pantomimes, and plays. The arenas are accessible by private tour through the tourist office or to the public on the first Sunday of every month between April and October as well as on European Heritage Days in September and National Archeology Days in June.

The Roman origins of Périgueux are laid out here within a soaring glass box (designed by star French architect Jean Nouvel) housing the archeological remains of a Gallo-Roman residence, the Domus de Vésone. Models of the grounds and house help visitors imagine what Roman life was like during the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD when Romans dominated the area. The collection is completed with vestiges found in and around Périgueux; the Vésone Tower in the park outside is the last remains of a Gallo-Roman temple.