Parcelles de terrain
MonumentHidden Treasure
Parcelles de terrain, located in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.1739, 5.7037
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081428
Aux portes de la Méditerranée, les parcelles archéologiques de Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer recèlent les vestiges de Taurois, cité antique engloutie par les siècles, gardienne silencieuse d'un passé gréco-romain exceptionnel.
History
On the Var coast of Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, between Les Lecques and the bay of La Madrague, lies one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Bouches-du-Rhône département. These plots of land, listed as Historic Monuments since 1959, preserve beneath their golden grass the traces of continuous human occupation since Antiquity, testifying to the exceptional richness of this Provencal coastline, which was one of the first lands colonised by the Greeks of Massalia. What makes this site truly unique is the density of its archaeological strata: the remains of Gallo-Roman villas, thermal baths, quays and artisanal areas all coexist within a small area, offering archaeologists an almost intact view of the organisation of an ancient coastal settlement. The immediate proximity of the Tauroentum Museum, just a few metres away, means that finds made on these plots can be put into perspective with objects unearthed during successive excavations. Visiting this site means first and foremost agreeing to read the landscape differently. Where the eye of the ordinary walker can only make out earth and scrubland, the heritage enthusiast will see alignments of walls at ground level, topographical anomalies revealing buried foundations, and fragments of tegulae coming to the surface. It's an experience of deciphering that feeds both the imagination and intellectual curiosity. The natural setting amplifies the singular character of the site: the limestone hinterland, the scents of thyme and rosemary, the low-angled morning light sculpting the relief of the ground, all contribute to a rare contemplative atmosphere. The site is set in an unspoilt coastal environment, a stone's throw from a sea whose deep blue hues remind us why Greek and Roman navigators made this coast one of their favourite ports of call.
Architecture
Strictly speaking, the Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer archaeological site does not feature any visible, built-up architecture in the monumental sense of the term: its interest lies precisely in what remains underground or exposed. The remains uncovered during the excavations reveal a spatial organisation typical of a medium-sized coastal Gallo-Roman settlement: carefully matched blocks of local limestone form the foundations of villae, some of which are several hundred square metres in size, arranged around a central open-air space. The materials used are typical of Roman construction in Provence: cut limestone rubble, opus incertum and opus mixtum for the elevations, tegulae and imbrices for the roofs, and lime mortar plaster for the floors and interior walls. Fragments of tubuli testify to the presence of hypocaust heating systems, typical of the thermal installations uncovered on the site. The general topography of the plots suggests a coherent urban layout: the structures are laid out in a regular pattern, probably following an ancient road network running north-south and east-west. The proximity of the shoreline suggests the existence of landing zones and warehouses directly connected to residential and artisanal areas, following a well-documented coastal settlement pattern in the western Mediterranean.
Related Figures
Strabon — géographe grec qui mentionne Tauroentum dans sa Géographie, première attestation littéraire du siteCésar — dont les flottes auraient fréquenté ces parages lors de la guerre contre Marseille (49 av. J.-C.)Archéologues provençaux du XIXe siècle — premiers fouilleurs amateurs ayant signalé les vestiges aux autorités savantesFernand Benoit — archéologue spécialiste de la Provence antique, directeur des Antiquités de Provence, qui contribua à la mise en valeur du site au milieu du XXe siècle
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Parcelles de terrain located?
Parcelles de terrain is located in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
Is Parcelles de terrain open to visitors?
Parcelles de terrain is currently closed to visitors.
