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Briga, archaeological siteImmersion in Gallo-Roman times

Briga archaeological site

In the heart of the Eu forest, atop the Beaumont plateau overlooking the town of Eu, the ruins of Gallo-Roman monuments and dwellings are a reminder of the existence of the town of Briga. Here, we take a closer look at this long-forgotten ancient and medieval settlement.

An ancient city

In the heart of the forest

It was at the end of the 18th century, during the construction of a forest road (now the Route de Beaumont), that the first remains were discovered. Initial investigations revealed the existence of a Gallo-Roman temple and theater. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1987, the site is the subject of annual archaeological digs. The latest digs have revealed the remains of a large sanctuary, a basilica, thermal baths and settlements.

From apogee

to mysterious decline

A dedication plaque discovered in 2006 provides further details: the town was called Briga, from the Gallic word for hill or fortress, and was the probable chief town of the Catuslogi territory (a people of Gaulish Belgium), covering an area of over 65 hectares. Abandoned towards the end of the 3rd century AD, its rapid decline had many causes. One of them is probably linked to the insecurity caused by Germanic incursions. The town was used as a stone quarry before the vegetation and forest quickly removed all traces of it.

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