Vertault: Oppidum and Church History

Vertault brings together a clearly defined archaeological site and a historic church: the area includes the Gallo-Roman Oppidum de Vertillum, the route of the Circuit de Beauregard and the Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens.

The archaeological site of Vertillum

The archaeological site of Vertault lies on a plateau at an altitude of 355 metres. It has a path with information panels for self-guided visits. The remains of Roman baths and a temple are visible, along with numerous underground structures and remnants of Vertillum’s fortification walls. The ruins of the Oppidum de Vertillum have been protected as a Monument historique since 1875.

Urban layout and ancient roads

The Musée du Pays Châtillonnais – Trésor de Vix describes Vertillum as the most important Gallo-Roman city in the Châtillonnais. Its layout resembles a Roman grid: one major street, called the Cardo, and streets running perpendicular to it. Vertillum also stood at the crossroads of ancient routes linking Sens, Langres and Autun. The city was abandoned at the end of antiquity. Two different perspectives thus reveal its history: the layout describes the city’s internal organisation, while the roads show its connections to larger cities.

The Circuit de Beauregard

The Circuit de Beauregard crosses the Laigne, passes through Vertault and climbs to the archaeological site of Vertillum. At the entrance to Vertillum, the route leaves the paved road and follows a path that descends into the forest. The route described therefore includes the river crossing and passage through the village, as well as the transition from a paved road to a forest path.

The Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens

The Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens in Vertault can also be viewed through several historical periods. Part of its walls dates from the 12th century; the nave was built in the Neoclassical style between 1782 and 1783. A Renaissance fresco was discovered beneath a layer of plaster in the south transept. The different dates of the masonry and nave, together with the fresco discovery, offer distinct insights into the church’s architectural and artistic history. Unlike the ancient urban layout of Vertillum, the church can be explored through its building phases and a Renaissance find. The church also houses a polychrome limestone group depicting Saint Anthony of Padua and a polychrome limestone statue of Saint Catherine of Alexandria with a wooden martyr’s wheel; both works date from the second half of the 16th century.

Archaeological remains and tools

The Musée du Pays Châtillonnais – Trésor de Vix preserves archaeological remains excavated at Vertillum. The museum’s collection also includes more than 300 tools from various trades: building, pottery, glassmaking, shoemaking, weaving, metalworking and bone working. The remains from Vertillum and the extensive tool collection offer different ways to explore regional history.

Discover more destinations: Corcelles-Les-Arts, Nantoux, Asnières-en-Montagne, Vianges, Marigny-Le-Cahouët, Chaudenay-Le-Château, Saint-Aubin, Baubigny.

For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.