Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise

Photo by Hubert.

Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise et leur territoire: Nimes, Arles, Glanum, aqueducs, via Domitia is part of the Tentative list of France in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List. It is a proposed extension of Arles WHS.

Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise comprise urban monuments, remains of aqueducts and Roman roads in the region of the former Roman province of Narbonensis. In addition to the already inscribed Arles and Nîmes, which have a separate TWHS entry, Glanum is the most important component of this serial proposal. The archaeological site of Glanum consists of the ruins of the Roman city centre and two well preserved monuments outside the ancient city walls: a triumphal arch and the Mausoleum of the Julii.

Map of Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise

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The coordinates shown for all tentative sites were produced as a community effort. They are not official and may change on inscription.

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Hubert

Austria - 26-Mar-14 -

Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise et leur territoire: Nimes, Arles, Glanum, aqueducs, via Domitia (T) by Hubert Scharnagl

The very short description on the WHC website provides little information which sites the nomination comprises, but Arles, Nîmes and Glanum seem to be the most important. The Roman remains in Arles are already inscribed and Nîmes has a separate T-list entry, so this review is on our visit of the archaeological site of Glanum. It is located at the foot of the Alpilles mountain range, one kilometre south of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and about 30 minutes from Arles by car.

The best-known monuments are 'Les Antiques': the Mausoleum of the Julii, 18 meters high, with well-preserved reliefs and next to it a triumphal arch, which has a strange shape, because the upper part is missing. Both are outside the Roman town, close to the car park and can be visited without charge. Just across the street is the entrance to the Roman town of Glanum (7.50 euro entrance fee).

The city was founded by the Salyens, was under Hellenistic influence and became a Roman colony about 30 BC until its destruction in the year 260 AD. The excavated area is about 300 metres in length and 80 metres in width. You can visit the remains of residential houses, public and religious buildings. The northern part comprises the residential quarter with the forum, public baths, a fountain and the remains of several residences, e.g. the House of Antae where some columns and a water basin were preserved. In the southern part are the remains of a temple, a chapel and a sacred spring. You get a good overview of the site from the adjacent hill. The photo shows the northern part, about two thirds of the entire area.

We enjoyed our visit, it is an interesting site. In many regions it would certainly be a highlight, but it can not compete with the other Roman heritage in South France.


Full Name
Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise et leur territoire: Nimes, Arles, Glanum, aqueducs, via Domitia
Country
France
Added
2002
Extension of
Arles WHS
Type
Cultural
Categories
Archaeological site - Ancient Rome
Link
By ID
2002 Added to Tentative List

The site has 1 locations

Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise et leur territoire: Nimes, Arles, Glanum, aqueducs, via Domitia: (T)
WHS 1997-2024