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The Via Julia Augusta
From $3,635
Summary
Discover Roman France along the Côte d’Azur
The Côte d’Azur brings to mind a vision of glamorous parties, glistening super yachts and beautiful Impressionist landscapes. Yet this playground of the rich was two thousand years ago, the major routeway from Gaul to Italy, and remains a hotbed of archaeology. The Via Julia Augusta, begun in 13 BCE by Augustus and completed by later emperors, was one of the longest of Roman roads, heading ever onwards through the countryside of Provence.
This rich and fertile coastline was not only coveted by Roman settlers – our route takes in the archaeology of earlier Greek colonists as well as the indigenous Gauls and their Stone Age ancestors. Follow the road that led to Rome!
Keeping you safe on your next tour
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FREE 'Travel Safe' kits for every traveller
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COVID-19 insurance
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Enhanced Health and Safety audits
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Distanced seating on coaches
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'Get me home' service and private airport transfers
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COVID protocols at our hotels, and aboard our cruise ships
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Packed lunches and flexible dining options
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Flexible balance payment date and COVID-friendly refund conditions
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COVID-testing and medical training for tour staff
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Constant monitoring and post-tour tracing
Meet your Experts
Expert guides, whenever you travel
We are proud of our team of expert guide lecturers. Whenever you travel, your guide lecturer will be on hand to answer questions, tell stories and deliver insights to make your trip truly remarkable.
John Shepherd
Guide Lecturer
A specialist in the study of ancient glass, John has worked extensively in the field in Europe as an archaeologist, including France, Italy and Bulgaria.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - Arles
Meet the group at our hotel in Arles. In the afternoon we visit the Musee departmental Arles Antique which contains one of the best collections of Roman material from southern France.
| Meals included | Dinner |
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Day 2 - Arles
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 amphitheatre, 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 there.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 3 - Aix-en-Provence
The Romans were greater users of water powered mills than is commonly realised, 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.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 4 - Marseille
In the morning we visit the Musee de Marseille with its impressive collection of Greek, Gallic and Roman material. The afternoon is free to enjoy at leisure.
| Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
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Day 5 - Marseille - Menton
Departing Marseille, we journey east along the coast to the pretty seaside town of Frejus, 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.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 6 - 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 amphitheatre still under excavation. After lunch in town, we visit the Forte dell’Annunziata Archaeology Museum before our return to Menton.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 7 - Menton - Nice
This morning we head to the restored Villa Kerylos. After lunch in Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, we head up to the Trophee des Alpes before transferring to the airport for our individual journeys home.
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch |
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Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- All taxes & gratuities
- Accommodation
- Meals as per the itinerary, tea or coffee with dinner
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Field notes
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 4 2021 | AVJA210904 | September 4 2021 (Saturday) | September 10 2021 (Friday) | John Shepherd | $3,635 (ex. flights) |
$500 | $830 | Book Now |
| April 22 2022 | AVJA220422 | April 22 2022 (Friday) | April 28 2022 (Thursday) | John Shepherd | $3,865 (ex. flights) |
$500 | $805 | Book Now |
Tour Enquiries
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