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Gaul |
Narbonnaise |
Domitienne Way (81-96 AD) |
Aurelian Way (275 AD) |
Gaul
The Roman province of Gaul (Gallia) included Cisalpine Gaul and Transalpine Gaul. Cisalpine Gaul was the area of Northern Italy conquered by the Romans in 222 BC.
The area of Transalpine Gaul included France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. The southern part of Transalpine Gaul became a Roman province in 121 BC. The northern part was conquered by Caesar in 50-50 BC. Transalpine Gaul was ravaged during the 5th century by Burgundian, Franks and Visigoths. In 486, it was conquered by Clovis, and became part of the kingdom of the Franks.
Narbonnaise
A province of Roman Gaul, a renamed version of Gallia Transalpina, created in 27 BC by Augustus. Colonies founded in Narbonnaise included Aix, Narbonne, Nîmes and Orange. (The town of Narbonne, Narbo Marius, was founded by the Romans in 118 BC.)
The Roman road Via Domitia, linked the Spanish provinces and Italy, passing through Narbonne, Nîmes, Orange and Cavaillon. The Roman road Via Aquitania connected the Mediterranean coast, near Narbonne, to Aquitaine and the Atlantic.
Domitienne Way (81-96 AD)
This Roman road "Voie Domitienne" was built during the rule of the Roman emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus (51-96), who succeeded his brother Titus. Vestiges of the Domitienne Way can be seen where it passed through Cavaillon, Bonnieux and Apt. At Cavaillon, two arcades that crossed the "way" still stand. At Bonnieux, the "way" crossed the Calavon river at the Pont Julien, one of the most beautiful Roman bridges in France.
Aurelian Way (275 AD)
The Aurelian Way, running from Rome to Arles, was built during the reign of Aurelius (214-275), emperor of Rome from 270 to 275. (Also known for capturing Palmyra in 273, and reasserting Roman authority.) Its route took it past Genoa,
Cimiez (Nice),
Antibes,
Fréjus,
Ampus,
Tourtour,
Aix-en-Provence,
Salon-de-Provence.
Now over 1700 years old, parts of the Aurelian Way are still in use.
There's a long section of it just east of Tourtour in the Var.
The RN7 (route national) between Aix and Nice follows much of the same route.
This road was over 2.5 m wide, paved, cambered, and put down on a cement base.
It used engineering extensively, including many bridges, to take the most direct route rather than following geographic contours.
The Aurelian Way was one of the most important roads in the Roman empire.
One of the features of this modern highway was a series of milestones marking each Roman mile (1478 m) along its full distance.
(France continues the tradition to this day with its "bornes" (milliaires) that mark the kilometer distances between towns.)
Another "modern" feature was raised pavements, or sidewalks, for use by pedestrians and for mounting blocks.
West of Salon-de-Provence the Aurelian Way passed by the Archimbaud farm where the "Archimbaud" milestone was found. This is about 14 km northwest of Salon-de-Provence, 16 km northeast of St-Martin-de-Crau, 6 km south of Aureille (eastern edge of IGN map 3043 OT).
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