Roman Pathway

A true relic of the roman period, this roman cobbled path has lived through centuries. It previously led to huge warehouses along the shores of the Rhone River. Built throughout the 1st century, it’s almost 2,000 years old! It was discovered during the landscaping of the “Jardin de la ville”. This pathway is a tangible proof of the significance of the old roman town of Vienne in the early centuries of our Era. Vienne was indeed the capital of Allobroges, which was a vast region. This land was spread across the county of Isere (which Vienne was part of) and the counties of Savoie and Haute-Savoie. Those pathways were between 4 and 8 meters wide, and slightly cambered to allow water to flow. They were built by Romans to create a road system throughout Gaul, connecting every city. Thanks to this new system, commercial trade has developed exponentially in the Roman Empire, contributing to its rise. On the other hand, this network also led to the Empire’s downfall, as it rendered invasions and attacks easy. The pathway you see in front  of you is a beautiful example of what the Roman roads looked like at the time, and it’s right here, in the middle of the garden! You will also discover a military milestone, which was used to display distances and destinations. This milestone comes from another road, but it’s far younger, it was built only during the 4th century! Feel free to go down and walk on this 2 millenia-old road!