The Via Julia Augusta

A day exploring Arles, city on the Rhone and one of the major centres of Gallia Narbonensis.  It became the capital of Gaul in the fourth and fifth centuries AD and was the western terminus of the Via Julia Augusta. Many Roman monuments survive encapsulated within the later city. We visit the amphitheater, theater, the Church of St. Trophime and a cryptoporticus, one the foundations of the forum. After lunch we visit the city walls and the Alyscamps Necropolis, just one of the subjects painted by Van Gogh during his stay here.

The Romans were greater users of water powered mills than is commonly realized, as we see at Barbegal, lying in the countryside east of the city of Arles, a multiple mill with 16 water wheels fed by an aqueduct. This is the largest concentration of mechanical power in the Roman Empire. We continue to Pont Flavien, which carried the Via Julia Augusta over the River Touloubre. After lunch in Aix-en-Provence, we visit the impressive remains of the Gallic town of Entremont.

In the morning we visit the Musée d'Histoire de Marseille with its impressive collection of Greek, Gallic and Roman material. The afternoon is free to enjoy at our leisure.

Departing Marseille, we journey east along the coast to the pretty seaside town of Fréjus, birthplace of Agricola. Formerly Forum Julii, this small town was one of Caesar’s colonies and is a great place to see Roman remains and early Merovingian churches. After lunch we have arranged special access to see the recently discovered Roman fresh water cisterns and fishponds before continuing our journey to Menton.

Heading east along the Via Julia Augusta towards Italy, we visit the Balzi Rossi caves – a chance to view some prehistoric material with their Cro-Magnon burials and Paleolithic deposits, which underline the length of human occupation on the Côte d’Azur. We continue to the site of Albintimilium, modern Ventimiglia. The ancient site has only recently been discovered, with graves unearthed and an amphitheater still under excavation. After lunch in town, we visit the Forte dell’Annunziata Archaeology Museum before returning to Menton.

This morning we explore Cimiez, visiting the Roman baths, amphitheater and the archaeological museum. We then head to La Turbie and on to Nice for our independent onward journeys.