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Gallo-Roman Villa of Saint-Romain, Loupiac

Explore the Gallo-Roman Villa of Saint-Romain in Loupiac: Discover ancient Roman luxury amidst the vineyards of Bordeaux, with thermal baths, mosaics, and wine tasting experiences.

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Step back in time at the Gallo-Roman Villa of Saint-Romain in Loupiac, a fascinating archaeological site showcasing the remains of a luxurious Roman estate. Discover well-preserved thermal baths, intricate mosaic floors, and the foundations of a grand villa that thrived from the 1st to the 6th centuries AD. The site offers a glimpse into the lives of wealthy Romans in the Aquitaine region, complete with a museum displaying artifacts unearthed during excavations. Located amidst the picturesque vineyards of Loupiac, renowned for its sweet white wines, the villa provides a unique blend of history and viticulture. Explore the remnants of a once-thriving estate, imagining the opulent lifestyle of its inhabitants and the agricultural activities that sustained it. The villa's integration with the surrounding wine culture adds a distinctive flavor to the experience, making it a worthwhile destination for history buffs and wine enthusiasts alike. The site is open afternoons from May to October, and on Sunday afternoons the rest of the year, offering guided tours and wine tastings.

A brief summary to Gallo-Roman Villa Saint-Romain Loupiac

  • Monday 2 pm-6 pm
  • Tuesday 2 pm-6 pm
  • Wednesday 2 pm-6 pm
  • Thursday 2 pm-6 pm
  • Friday 2 pm-6 pm
  • Saturday 2 pm-6 pm
  • Sunday 2 pm-6 pm

Local tips

  • Combine your visit with a wine tasting at Château le Portail Rouge, the vineyard that owns the villa, for a complete Loupiac experience.
  • Check the opening hours in advance, as they vary depending on the season. The villa is generally open afternoons from May to October and Sunday afternoons during the rest of the year.
  • Wear comfortable shoes for walking around the archaeological site, as the terrain can be uneven.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    From the center of Loupiac, follow signs for 'Villa Gallo-Romaine'. The site is located approximately 2 km from the village center. The drive is straightforward, primarily along the D116. Limited free parking is available on-site.

  • Public Transport

    From Bordeaux, take the Citram Aquitaine bus line 481 towards Cadillac. Get off at the 'Bourg' stop in Loupiac. From there, it's approximately a 25-minute walk (2 km) to the villa. Follow the D116 road, direction to Cérons. A single bus fare from Bordeaux to Bourg costs approximately €3. Consider using a taxi or ride-sharing service for the final leg if walking is not preferred; a taxi from Bourg to the villa would cost around €10-€15.

  • Taxi/Ride-Share

    Taxis and ride-sharing services (like Uber) are available in the area. A taxi from Cadillac to the Gallo-Roman Villa would cost approximately €15-€20 and take around 10 minutes. Confirm the fare before starting your journey. Uber is available in Loupiac.

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Discover more about Gallo-Roman Villa Saint-Romain Loupiac

Nestled in the heart of the Loupiac wine region, the Gallo-Roman Villa of Saint-Romain offers a captivating journey into the past, revealing the remnants of a once-grand estate that flourished during the Roman era. This archaeological site, located in the locality of Saint-Romain, provides a tangible connection to the lives of wealthy Romans who inhabited the Aquitaine region centuries ago. The villa's history spans from the 1st to the 6th centuries AD, a period of significant cultural and economic development in Roman Gaul. Archaeological excavations have unearthed remarkable features, including well-preserved thermal baths, intricate mosaic floors, and the foundations of the main residential buildings. These discoveries offer invaluable insights into the architectural styles, daily routines, and artistic preferences of the villa's inhabitants. The thermal baths, a central feature of Roman villas, showcase the advanced engineering and luxurious lifestyle of the era. Visitors can explore the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), and frigidarium (cold bath), imagining the social and recreational activities that took place within these spaces. The mosaic floors, adorned with geometric patterns and vibrant colors, exemplify the artistic skill and aesthetic sensibilities of Roman artisans. The villa's museum houses a collection of artifacts unearthed during archaeological digs, providing further context and detail to the site's history. These artifacts include pottery, tools, jewelry, and architectural fragments, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of the villa's residents and the agricultural activities that sustained the estate. Beyond its historical significance, the Gallo-Roman Villa of Saint-Romain benefits from its location within the renowned Loupiac wine region. This area is celebrated for its sweet white wines, produced from grapes affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), a fungus that concentrates the sugars and flavors in the fruit. The villa's integration with the surrounding vineyards creates a unique blend of history and viticulture, offering visitors the opportunity to explore both the archaeological site and the local wine culture. The site itself is composed of a Gallo-Roman Villa dating from the 1st to the 7th century AD, a 12th-century priory, and an 18th-century residence. This rich site has lived and transformed over the centuries. The visible part of the Villa consists of a thermal complex and in particular a natatio bordered by a mosaic gallery of great color richness. Guides will recount the different phases of construction that followed one another, from the first thermal baths of the 1st century until the site's peak in the 5th century AD. The site then served as the site for a Benedictine building dedicated to Saint-Romain in the 11th – 12th centuries. Today it serves as a storage place for stone material. Visitors can discover the columns of the peristyles with their shafts in embedded leaves. This chapel of reduced size and extremely sober aesthetic is the only remaining testimony of this monastic place. Finally, in the 18th century, a modern residence was established on this site and completely reused the chapel. Visitors can discover some of the remains uncovered during the various excavation campaigns in the Villa museum. A visit to the Gallo-Roman Villa of Saint-Romain provides a multi-faceted experience, combining historical exploration, artistic appreciation, and a taste of the region's renowned wines. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an art lover, or a wine connoisseur, this site offers a unique and enriching journey into the past. The Gallo-Roman Villa of Loupiac designates the ancient remains still in place of the residence of a wealthy landowner, located on the current territory of Loupiac. The name of the town suggests that of a local Gallo-Roman owner increased by the suffix -acum. As Gerhard Rohlfs suggests, derivatives of this type belong to an era when the ancient Gaulish population had begun to adapt to the new language of the Roman colonizers. A complex set of thermal baths covering several centuries of architectural programs has been unearthed, characterized by its three successive spaces, caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium, a network of pipes as well as a vast swimming pool; but it is above all the mosaic carpets that attract attention. An fire destroyed the site in the 6th century. It was reused a few centuries later by the Benedictine priory of Saint-Romain. The Gallo-Roman villa is famous for its thermal baths and its swimming pool decorated with polychrome mosaics with geometric designs (dating from the end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 5th century) and vaulted with arcades resting on columns with carved capitals. Part of the building of the Château du Portail Rouge from the 18th century is used to house the museum of the archaeological site. The most beautiful pieces from the archaeological digs are exhibited there.

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