Via Domitia, Gallia Narbonensis

Most Recent Visit: June 2018 As has been discussed in previous posts, there are a number of sites that would be categorized as miscellaneous; not associated with any major site that would warrant a full post to itself, but also very much worth visiting. A number of these sites spring up along the path of…

Read More

Arelate, Gallia Narbonensis – Part II

Continued From Arelate Part I A bit north of the Place du Forum, at about 13 Rue du Sauvage, are the remains of a basilica incorporated into the façade of the Hôtel d’Arlatan. A sign on the building on the west side of Rue du Sauvage marks the spot. Some of the stonework in the…

Read More

Arausio, Gallia Narbonensis

Most Recent Visit: June 2018 Not far from the confluence of the Rhône and L’Aigue rivers is the French town of Orange, which boasts perhaps two of the most well-known Roman monuments in France; the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Théâtre Antique d’Orange and the Arc de Triomphe d’Orange. Located in the territory of…

Read More

Vasio Vocontiorum, Gallia Narbonensis – Part II

Continued From Vasio Vocontiorum Part I Puymin La Villasse is exited through the same way it is entered, and the entrance to Puymin is just directly across the road where the ticket is purchased. Immediately inside the park is another large residence, the Maison de l’Apollon Lauré (House of the Laurelled Apollo), sometimes referred to…

Read More

Gallia Narbonensis Sites – North

Most Recent Visit: June 2018. Valentia In antiquity, the French city of Valence was preceded by the Roman settlement of Valentia. Valentia was located at the second most important crossroads in the region, behind Lugdunum, where the Via Agrippa running between Lugdunum and Arelate intersected with a road running to the east toward Italy via…

Read More

Alba Augusta Helviorum, Gallia Narbonensis

Most Recent Visit: June 2018. Tucked into a fertile agricultural valley about 7 kilometers to the west of the Rhône, along the L’Escoutay River, a tributary of the Rhône, are the remains of the Roman town of Alba Augusta Helviorum. The archaeological site is located just to the north of the present-day town of Alba-la-Romaine,…

Read More

Glanum, Gallia Narbonensis – Part II

Continued From Glanum Part I Monumental Area Further on from the residential area of Glanum to the south is the monumental area, where many of the public buildings or the settlement were located. Immediately south of the bathing complex is what is described as being the curia, or some kind of town council or town…

Read More

Avennio, Gallia Narbonensis

Most Recent Visit: June 2018 Over a thousand years before Avignon was the ‘City of Popes’, the focal point of a schism in the Roman Catholic church for which the city is most famous, it was the Roman town of Avennio (or Avenio). Avenio’s history, though, stretches back well before the Romans set their sights…

Read More

Genava, Gallia Narbonensis

Most Recent Visit: June 2018 Situated at the estuary of the Rhône River and the lake that bears its name is the second largest city in Switzerland, Geneva (Genève). During the period of Roman control of the area, Geneva was preceded by Genava, also sometimes referred to as Genua. The name seems to be derived…

Read More

Colonia Julia Equestris, Gallia Belgica

Most Recent Visit: June 2018 Nestled along the shore of Lake Geneva, about 20 kilometers northeast of the city of Geneva is the small town of Nyon. Prior to the arrival of the Romans, the area was under the control of the Helvetii, who apparently had an oppidum at or near the site of the…

Read More