Castellum de Larçay

Castellum de Larçay is a Roman military fortification with a trapezoidal layout and walls reaching approximately 6 meters high with varying thickness between 2.2 and 4.2 meters. The structure occupies a hillside overlooking the Cher River and once guarded several ancient trade routes in this region.

The fortification was built in the late 3rd century and replaced an earlier monumental mausoleum on the site. It was constructed during a period of instability to monitor river and overland traffic near Tours.

The walls display alternating layers of stone and terracotta that reveal Roman military construction methods from the late imperial period. This building technique was typical for frontier fortifications and shaped how the structure appears today.

The site is accessible via the surrounding paths and offers good views of the overall structure from the exterior. The best time to visit is during clear weather when the details of the walls and their layering are most visible.

Archaeological work between 1984 and 1987 revealed that the northern wall remained unfinished at foundation level. This discovery suggests the construction project may have been interrupted or never fully completed for reasons still unclear.

Location: Larçay

Address: rue de la Tour

GPS coordinates: 47.36750,0.77639

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:27