The Via Domitia

The Roman road known as the Via Domitia (Domitian Way) runs from one end of the region to the other, only 15 miles from the sea, providing a fine way to explore the varied landscapes and history.

Historic Route South France, Languedoc-Roussillon

Via Domitia, Roman France - Historic Route

The Via Domitia is the oldest Roman road in Gaul. It links Rome in Italy to Cadiz in Spain, and is part of an immense road network of more than 70,000 miles, built by the Romans over eight centuries. The section that passes through Gaulish territory allowed Rome to administer the whole of southern Gaul, distributing agricultural land to Roman colonists and building new towns.

More than 2000 years ago the Roman Republic, surrounded by small kingdoms, was struggling to survive. One aim was paramount: to secure Rome’s possessions in Spain. Between Rome and Iberia, the territories of the Gaulish tribes barred access by land. In 118 BC, Cneus Domitius Ahenobarbus crossed the Rhône with his legions. He had to establish a land axis, and set up garrisons to protect the colonies, such as Narbonne.

He built a military road which still bears his name: the Via Domitia or Domitian Way, which rapidly became a major route for communications and commerce.

Apart from exchanges between Rome and its colonial cities, a ‘crossroads life’ developed all along the road, where it linked with neighbouring towns, boosting the local economy. The road was neglected for centuries, and a modern road hides the original materials in many places, but whole sections of the foundations and engineering works such as bridges and mile-posts can still be seen.

The Via Domitia is one of the major landmarks of France which has left its mark and shaped the landscape of the area forever.

Narbonne

Narbonne is the oldest Roman colony outside Italy, founded in 118 BC. It marks the great urban expansion and prosperity of the Augustan reign, which lasted from 27 BC to 14 AD. A paved segment of the Via Domitia has been uncovered in the town centre. As it emerged from Narbonne, this road crossed the old course of the Aude (now the Canal de la Robine) over a bridge, the Pont des Marchands. In mediaeval times, the bridge was reconstructed and built on with houses.

Ambrussum

Before the Roman conquest, the indigenous people of Southern Gaul lived in fortified towns such as Ambrussum. While the Via Domitia was being constructed in the 2nd century BC, Ambrussum became a staging post along the route. Eventually, it became a stopover point on the Via Domitia, and was a true town by the end of the 4th century AD. There are some stunning Roman remains around the town. You can walk along a paved stretch of the Via Domitia here, rutted with deep potholes. The Roman bridge over the Vidourle, originally built with 11 arches, has one arch still standing. You can also see the foundations of the pre-Roman fortified wall and its towers, which has been excavated over about half a mile.

Pinet and Loupian

At Pinet, the Via Domitia has deep foundations, raised nearly 2 metres high. A cut out section allows you to see the building techniques used by the Romans, including the different layers of stones, rocks and pebbles that lay under the paving slabs. From Pinet, you can walk or cycle along the Via Domitia on a marked trail for several miles.

At Loupian, near to the Thau lagoon, you’ll find the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa with 13 multi-coloured mosaics.

Les Cluses to Panissars

To the south of Perpignan and the hill-fort of Ruscino, the Via Domitia takes two routes. One runs along the coast, passing through Elne and the ancient hill-fort of Illiberris, then through Port-Vendres, know by the Romans as Portus Veneris (‘Port of Venus’).

 The other route takes an inland course, passing through Le Boulou, Les Cluses and the passes of Le Perthus and Panissars. At Les Cluses, the remains of two Roman forts overlook the Via Domitia, which is still clearly visible in the depths of the Rom Gorge. This was an easy point for the Romans to control the movement of traffic. They blocked the road and levied tolls (1/40th of the value of the goods carried) at the Portorium, a small building with two doors through which the Via Domitia passed.

At Panissars you can still see the Via Domitia hewn out of the rock. From here, there’s a superb panoramic view over Spain, where the Via Augusta takes over.