Roman sanctuary and theatre

The rocky plateau, which falls away steeply to the Saar on three sides, was already occupied by the Celts in pre-Roman times. The fourth side in the west was secured by a bank. In Roman times the site continued to be the central place for the region (vicus). Excavations have uncovered not just settlement remains, but also a Roman sanctuary with the remnants of a Gallo-Roman temple with ambulatory, and a theatre.

The semi-circular seating area (cavea) of the theatre at the eastern end of the plateau had a clear view across the stage and across the valley bbeyond. Entrances were found at both sides of the stage, from where two stairways ran between perhaps 36 rows of seats up to the surrounding wall at the back. Masonry relieving arches protected the 35 m of the stage’s façade from the pressure of the ground pushing against it.

The theatre could seat 3500 spectators. As at other central places, here the population came together, whether for economic reasons at the market here, or for political and religious reasons at the theatre and the adjoining temple. The theatre was built at the beginning of the 2nd century, much of it in timber, but was replaced entirely in stone about AD 300.