This week we invite you to discover, with a specialized guide, the beautiful antique city of Glanum.
An exceptional hike in the heart of an antique site located at the exit of Saint Rémy de Provence, at the foot of the Alpilles Natural Park.
In the heart of the Alpilles mountains, the city of Glanum was a sanctuary city founded during the iron age.
This antique city is at the exit of one of these unique passages cutting into the Alpilles chain.
This passage is still used today, it is the road for Baux de Provence. It is this privileged position, protected by mountains, near a direct proximity of a spring reputed to be sacred which caused its fortune in antiquity.
The city still holds many mysteries. If one is capable today of dating its creation from the first millennium BC, archaeologists have for now not enough details to tell this story.
Only a very small part of the city has been explored, the size of the site is estimated at almost 20 hectares.
If the first occupants of the city are still unknown today, it is the Romans who, arriving in the 6th century in the city, would give it its unique character and would occupy it for four centuries.
It is only much later that, invaded by barbarians, it was abandoned by its occupants who, a kilometer to the north, would build the city of Saint Rémy de Provence.
Quickly buried, then forgotten, the antique city of Glanum would be rediscovered centuries later during the archaeological excavation of the inter wars years, in 1921.
These excavations allow one to better understand he history of the site. They start in 1921, under the responsibility of Jules Formige and of Pierre de Brun, then are developed between the 50s and the 70s. Of the twenty hectares of the city, only two hectares can be visited.
Today, you will discover a very small part of the pre-Roman and Roman city. Here you will find monuments and private houses (domus) decorated with mosaics and paintings.
Many objects were found in these excavations, among them exceptional sculptures dating from the Gallic and Roman periods.
In this collection we especially like the almost life-size characters sitting cross-legged on an honor pedestal.
This posture was, according to ancient writers the one adopted by the Gauls at rest and for banquets.
For ancient times, one may mention the most exceptional discoveries, the portraits in white marble from Carrara, representing on one had the sister of Emperor Augustus, Octavia, and on the other hand his spouse, Livia.
These works which cannot usually be viewed by the general public are stored, conserved and studied in the Hotel de Sade. However, if you travel in summer, you can enjoy the exceptional opening to visitors of the Hôtel de Sade and discover the treasures dug from the Glanum site.
Plaisirs et Maisons de Provence suggests that you stay in a vacation rental in the Alpilles or in a vacation rental in Provence to discover this major archeological site found in a remarkable natural environment.
If you want to discover this beautiful treasure of provencal history we invite you to visite their official website by clicking on this link.
