Roman Theater of Lillebonne

The theater's unique hybrid design allowed it to host both theatrical performances and bloody gladiatorial games in the same venue. While traditional Roman theaters had a semicircular orchestra for musicians, Lillebonne's was converted into a full arena where gladiators fought and wild animals were hunted—making it one of the few known examples of this dual-purpose architecture in northern Gaul.

Contrary to what many visitors expect, the stage building where actors performed has never been excavated—it lies buried beneath the modern departmental road that crosses the site. Archaeologists know it exists but accessing it would require closing a major traffic route, so this part of the ancient theater remains a mystery waiting to be uncovered.

During World War II, German forces painted the entire theater in camouflage patterns to hide it from Allied bombers targeting the nearby Seine River crossings. These wartime paint layers were only fully removed during restoration work in the 1990s, revealing the original Roman and medieval stonework that had been concealed for decades.