Enormous Roman Villa Unearthed in France

Archaeology Magazine ^ | June 10, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

During excavation of a gravel pit on the shores of the Yonne River in 1966, workers uncovered the foundations of a Roman villa just south of the Roman town of Autessiodurum (present-day Auxerre). The 7,500-square-foot structure contained around 10 rooms and was inhabited from the first through fourth century a.d. This discovery would prove to just be the tip of the iceberg, however. According to La Brüjula Verde, renewed archaeological work conducted at the site six decades later by the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) has revealed a sprawling 43,000-square-foot estate that is among the largest villas ever recorded in Roman Gaul. At its center was a large ornamental garden featuring a pool and a fountain. This was surrounded by porticoed walkways that connected the mansion’s main rooms. The property also boasted its own bath complex. French authorities believe the estate was not a simple country villa, but a massive agricultural complex owned and managed by a family belonging to the political and social elite of Autessiodurum. To read about excavations of another Roman site in France, go to "Gaul's University Town."

[SunkenCiv]

© Christophe Fouquin, INRAP

[SunkenCiv]

[GreatRoad]

Fantastic find. Thank you for posting.

[rktman]

Cool!

[Waverunner]

Romans, the Italians that hadn't discovered their heritage yet.
You know, the stoic, restrained orator, types.

[Waverunner]

Romans, the Italians that hadn't discovered their heritage yet.
You know, the stoic, restrained orator, types.

[Waverunner]

Romans, the Italians that hadn't discovered their heritage yet.
You know, the stoic, restrained orator, types.

[kiryandil]

Auxerre is the capital of the Yonne department and the fourth-largest city in the Burgundy historical region southeast of Paris. Auxerre's population today is about 35,000; the urban area comprises roughly 111,000 inhabitants

[kiryandil]

You can say that again.

[Waverunner]

Sorry for the three posts, internet lag made it seem like it wasn’t posting.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Sorry for the three posts, internet lag made it seem like it wasn’t posting.

[Domestic Church]

Great discovery!

[Red Badger]

Are there any Roman Villas that aren’t ‘enormous’?..............

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.

[SunkenCiv]

There’s a home in Pompeii, hmm, maybe Herculaneum...

Ah, Herc. The House of the Grand Portal — some up-and-comer bought the peristyle section of the neighboring house, built a huge entrance where an alley had been, to make the place look like the grandest home on the block. There’s a corridor that leads back to the former peristyle.

https://bellcurveoflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/herculaneum-house-of-grand-portal.html

[Red Badger]

Was his name Biggus Dickus?................

[SunkenCiv]

His chariot was a Corvette.