European Heritage Days - Discovery of the model of the Gallo-Roman villa of Richebourg

Discover the model of the Gallo-Roman villa of Richebourg loaned by Seine-Yvelines Archéologie during the European Heritage Days, on September 18 between 9:30 a.m. and 16:30 p.m., and on September 19 and 20 from 14:30 p.m. to 18 p.m. at the Château de Richebourg.

The model of the Gallo-Roman villa of Richebourg will be accessible without a guide on Friday, September 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., then from 14 p.m. to 16:30 p.m., and on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 from 14:30 p.m. to 18 p.m. at the Château de Richebourg.

The model was created in 2004 by Mr. Jean-Pierre Chatillon. It reconstructs the Gallo-Roman villa discovered in 1987 by Mr. Jean-Claude Chatain, president of the Richebourg History and Archaeology Club.

From 1994 onwards, excavations carried out under the direction of archaeologist Yvan Barrat provided a precise idea of ​​the organisation of the buildings and the garden and, through this model, allowed us to reconstruct a large-scale architectural programme dating from the XNUMXst century AD.

This set includes:
- A vast residence bordered on the front by a colonnaded gallery and decorated with bathing pavilions facing, beyond a wooded garden, a large agricultural building topped with a granary tower for storing cereals.
-One of the few gardens in Europe that could be completely recreated thanks to the presence of 150 perforated pots used for transplanting trees or shrubs. Analysis of the pollen contained in the sediments of the pots made it possible to identify their species (lilac, larch, cedar, and probably olive trees).

Photos of the excavations, objects discovered on the site, and films will illustrate the visit. Mr. Jean-Claude Chatain will answer visitors' questions.