Vestiges antiques de Riez, archaeological site in Riez, France
Vestiges antiques de Riez is an archaeological site in a village in southern France that has been inhabited from Roman times to the present day. The grounds show scattered remains of a former temple with several standing granite columns, alongside ruins of public baths, residential buildings, and an early Christian baptistery dating to the 5th century.
The place was founded two millennia ago under the rule of Emperor Augustus as a flourishing Roman urban center with temples, a forum, and public buildings. After Rome's decline it became shaped by early Christianity and received a bishopric in the Middle Ages, which was later dissolved during the French Revolution.
The site is known as Riez la Romaine and marks its role as an important Roman settlement in the past. Visitors walking through the old town will notice decorative plasterwork on many house facades, a local craft tradition that became popular from the 16th century onward and shaped the village's character.
The site is freely accessible and located in the village center near residential buildings and the church. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven, and can explore the standing columns and foundations directly.
Inside the simple 5th-century baptistery hide ancient columns reused from earlier buildings, showing the continuity between pagan and Christian eras. This feature is uncommon in France and reveals how early Christians repurposed local materials.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
