Temple romain de Château-Bas, Roman archaeological temple in Vernègues, France.
The Temple of Château-Bas is a Roman structure with a large fluted column topped by an acanthus capital, situated within a semicircular sacred enclosure. The ruins stand near the Château-Bas wine estate and display typical ancient features of its religious purpose.
This temple was built in the late 1st century BC and ranks among the earliest French sites to receive protected status when it was classified in 1840. That recognition made it one of the first systematically protected archaeological sites in France.
The temple showcases Roman building methods through its stone construction and Corinthian columns, which were positioned for religious ceremonies at this sacred location. Visitors can see the craftsmanship of ancient stonemasons reflected in the fine details of the capitals and column bases.
The temple is located east of Vernègues along the road to Cazan and is accessible on foot. The best time to visit is during daylight hours, when the light reveals details of the stone construction and the nearby chapel can be viewed from outside.
The temple ruins are partially integrated into the walls of a later Romanesque chapel, placing two entirely different epochs side by side. This unusual condition shows how later generations reused the ancient stones to construct their own structures.
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