Roman Sites & Museums in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This page about the Roman archaeology of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France is part of our Guide to Exploring the Roman World (also our France Travel Guide). The guide is produced by Thomas Dowson, an archaeologist and the founder of Archaeology Travel, who also lived in France for ten years, along with contributions by other authors and researchers on this website. Read more about the authors and this website.
The page was last checked and/or updated on 19 December 2023.
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This page provides information and visitor details for the best Gallo-Roman and Roman sites and museums to see in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Follow the links below for the same in the other regions of France. Or take a look at our choice 25 Must See Roman Sites in France; a good starting point for first time visitors to France or Roman archaeology in France. We have also created an Interactive Map of Roman Sites & Museums in France.
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Roman Sites in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Lyon Roman Theatres
Built into the side of Fourvière Hill sometime around the beginning of the Empire is a Roman theatre with one of the most breath-taking settings in France. The theatre is thought to be the oldest in Gaul, and one of the largest. Next to the theatre is a smaller theatre, or odeon. Besides these two structures, ruins of a temple complex were discovered behind the theatre, and behind the odeon is a street lined with shops. Each year during July and August the theatres host the ‘Nuits de Fourvière’.
Puy de Dôme Mercury Temple
On the summit of a volcanic mountain, the Puy de Dôme, the Romans built a temple and dedicated it to their god Mercury. Besides the elevated Roman archaeology, the summit offers expansive views of the Chaîne des Puys – a 40 km chain of volcanic cinder cones, lava domes and maars. A Roman road is still used today to ascend the volcano by foot. There is no need to worry about the volcano, as its last eruption is thought to have been in about 5760 BC.
Temple of Augustus and Livia
Situated in a small square in the small town of Vienne, a different setting to the dominant position in the centre of a Roman Forum of Colonia Julia Viennensium. Like many such Roman temples in Europe, the reason this one has survived so remarkably well is because it was transformed into a church. From the imprint of the inscription it has been possible to work out that the temple was dedicated to the Imperial Cult in Rome, one of the first in Gaul. The temple sits on a typically Roman podium, over 2 m high. The temple is not open to the public, but can be seen at anytime.
Museums With Roman Collections in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Bargoin Museum, Clermont Ferrand
The Musée Bargoin was founded following a legacy to the city of Clermont-Ferrand by Jean-Baptiste Bargoin. Originally intended to be a fine arts museum, it opened in 1903 with a considerable collection of artefacts collected from a number of archaeological sites from around the region. Permanent displays in the museum deal with prehistory of the area, from the Stone Age to the Gallo-Roman Period. The museum has a new, extensive permanent exhibition on votive offerings of the Roman period.
Interactive Map of Roman Sites & Museums in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
You can do at least two things with the following interactive map. First, by switching the display of the map to satellite mode (you can uncheck ‘labels’ to get a clutter free map), you can get a street view of most of the sites. Simply click and drag the yellow pegman (lower right) onto the map and drop it on a blue line or dot to get street-view at that point.
Second, you can also use the markers on the map to save that site or museum to your itinerary. Click on a marker to see the site’s information box. If you are logged in you will see the option to add that place to your itineraries and travel lists. Login or register to use these features.
Roman Sites & Museums in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
