Segodunum, Archaeological site in Rodez, France
Segodunum was an important settlement built on a hilltop overlooking the Aveyron River, where the modern city of Rodez now stands. The remains reveal how the site developed from a Celtic fort into a Roman administrative hub that governed the surrounding region.
The site began as a Celtic fort of the Ruteni people but became a major Roman administrative seat after conquest in the 1st century BCE. It remained occupied for several centuries, evolving into an important regional center that shaped the territory's future.
The name reflects the site's role as a fortified settlement, and visitors can still see in the excavations how people lived and worked here across centuries. Objects found on the ground tell the story of a community that bridged Celtic and Roman traditions.
The site sits elevated near Rodez and is easy to reach, though the remains are spread across the area. It helps to walk slowly through the excavations and pay attention to the information panels that explain what you are seeing.
The Celtic word 'sego' means fort and 'dun' means hill, so the name perfectly captured the site's geography. Many visitors do not realize that walking through modern Rodez means treading above ancient layers buried beneath the city streets.
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