Sanctuary of Cybèle, Roman archaeological site in 5th arrondissement of Lyon, France.
The Sanctuary of Cybele is a Roman site featuring stone foundations, inscriptions, and altars arranged across multiple levels of an ancient complex near the theater. The remains reveal the layout of a multi-level building complex with different functional areas and spaces.
Excavations between 1965 and 1978 uncovered structures dating to around 20 BCE, initially interpreted as a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Cybele. The findings later showed that this location served a more complex role in the early Roman settlement than first believed.
The site reveals evidence of religious worship alongside everyday commerce from the early Roman period. You can see remnants of shops and streets that show how people lived and traded in those days.
You can visit the site year-round and explore the preserved structures along marked pathways with information signs. It helps to wear sturdy footwear since the terrain is uneven and the remains are spread across different elevation levels.
A water storage system connected to an aqueduct supplied the ancient city of Lugdunum through settling basins in the western section of the complex. This sophisticated water management reveals how carefully the Romans engineered their infrastructure.
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