Villevieille
Villevieille and its surroundings have left out many remains and testimonials which have gone through times.
2 000 years of History
Tracks of human occupation go back to Prehistoric times. The plateau of this medieval village once constituted a strategic place overlooking the Vidourle lowland. It is only since the 2nd century AD that Villevielle withered away for the benefit of Sommières’s market town, taking advantage of its location of business and communication crossroad. The town of Sommières then developed and the population of Villevielle settled down hillside.
From Romanity to the Middle Ages…
The Terriers site and the castle are part of the rich past of Villevielle.
In the centre of the village, on the Terriers site, archaeological excavations made between 1999 and 2005 allowed to bring to light a Gallo-roman residential area. The basis of the walls of one of the houses (domus in latin) was restored above real remains with skills and stones close to the original ones.
Near, a high dungeon overlooks the valley. Built in the 11th century by the Bermond d’Anduze, the castle has been changed a lot over the ages and we can specifically notice an appealing Renaissance façade. The Villevielle castle has been a familial house for 5 centuries which we can now visit with a guide.
THINGS TO DO and discover in villevieille
THE EXPERIENCE "VILLEVIEILLE ANTIQUE"
Immersive self-guided tour of a Gallo-Roman villa with your smartphone on the Terriers site. Listen to stories of a family's daily life. Signage installed on site.
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