Fréjus was founded in 49 BC by the Romans. In the course of its history, it has undergone many changes, making the town a real open book. It contains many secrets that testify to the different eras that have profoundly changed it. Estérel Côte d'Azur has tested for you the guided tour of the city in 2000 years of history and reveals some of its secrets !
As we leave, we pass the fountain of the "four parts of the world" which celebrates the return of water to Fréjus. It represents the 4 "parts" of the world with 4 children of different origins: Africa, Asia, America and Europe.
A little further on, we see the Memorial of the Wars in Indochina, a monument created to welcome the remains of 23,920 soldiers and civilians who died during the Indochina War.
On the road to the arenas, we pass in front of the Fréjus aqueduct, the first remarkable site of our trip. Philippe tells us that this monument, present in several places in the city, travelled more than 42 km to supply Fréjus with water for more than 2 centuries! It started from the villages of Mons and Montauroux to supply Fréjus.
During the First World War many soldiers from the colonies were mobilized in Fréjus. In order to find a place of worship in line with their beliefs, the Indochinese riflemen set about building the Hông Hiên pagoda with the agreement of Captain Delayen and Colonel Lame. Today, it is home to the largest reclining Buddha in Europe !
We arrive at the amphitheatre, a monument built in the 1st century. The building could accommodate more than 10,000 people at the time! Today the arena is no longer the arena of gladiatorial combat but is used for performances by artists and events such as the Fréjus Nights for example.
It should be noted that the Romans were not very tall, which is why the passages dedicated to maintenance were less than 1m60 high ! For the small complexed sizes know that Cleopatra measured only 1m50.
The Romans had already put in place an ingenious system to avoid crowds at the exit of the arenas : staggered exits, still in use today!
In the center of the arena, our guide takes the opportunity to break a few clichés about gladiators :
| Did you know that ? |
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| The famous thumb down to condemn a gladiator to death is only a legend ! |
| Gladiators rarely fought to the death ! |
| It was possible to fill the amphitheatre arena with water to relive naval battles ! |
2000 years ago "Forum Julii" (name given to the city by the Romans) was home to one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean ! Unfortunately time, abandonment and silting up deprived the Frejussians of the ancient port, even turning it into a garden in the 18th century.
In 1989, François Léotard inaugurated Port Fréjus in order to provide the town with a new marina.
In 2013, Port Fréjus II welcomes its first boats. The project extends the port inland towards the city centre, offering a magnificent view of the Cathedral. The new development of the port sees the construction of several infrastructures such as Californian/Mediterranean type housing or the new gambling casino.
Today the project to extend the port to the city centre, as in Roman times, is under study.
Will Fréjus find a port linking the city centre to the sea ?
The town of Fréjus is home to many "belle époque" villas (a period prior to the First World War which saw many scientific, economic and political advances). These large residences of various styles are now part of the Frejussian landscape. They all have their own history and architecture. It's up to you to find the most beautiful one as you stroll along.
The visit ends with the Cathedral of Saint-Léonce, the jewel of Fréjus town centre. As we enter, we notice that the Cathedral is made up of several spaces. On our left, we can see the Baptistery, which bathes in daylight and symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit on the newly baptized for Christians. In front of you, a staircase leads to the cloister.
On the right, the visit continues with the part dedicated to the religious ceremonies consisting of the apse and the two naves.
The Cathedral presents many remarkable works of art, such as statues of bishops or a Quoirin organ.
We would like to thank our guide Philippe who passed on to us his passion for Fréjus !
| In brief |
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| An ideal tour to learn more about the city of Fréjus |
| The bus tour is a quick way to visit the whole city. |
| A passionate guide with anecdotes all along the route |
Book the guided tour 2000 years of history :
Discover Fréjus and its history. Its historic centre with the Saint-Léonce cathedral, the amphitheatre, the Saint-François de Paule chapel.
Price : From 8€ (free for children under 12 years old)
Duration : 2 heures
Meeting : 249 Rue Jean Jaurès, 83600 Fréjus
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Les Adrets de l'Estérel is a small town located at the extreme southeastern Var. Bordering the Maritimes Alpes, it is composed of large green forests. The town overlooks the bay of Cannes and has an exceptional view on the Lérins Islands and the Corniche de l'Estérel.
Puget sur Argens is a small village located in the middle of many wineries. Its commercial area, near the village, includes many shopping center. North of the village, the Bois du Defens give rise to several walks.
Welcome to Les Issambres, the district of Roquebrune-sur-Argens located on the coast. True paradise with its 8 km of beaches and creeks, this family seaside resort, already frequented at the time by the Romans, is located between the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and Fréjus-Saint Raphaël.
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