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Origin and history

The Roman aqueduct of Vieu, located in Valromey-sur-Séran (formerly Vieu) in Ain, is an underground work probably dating from the second half of the 2nd century AD. Entirely buried, it linked Champagne-en-Valromey to the fountain of l'Adoue for about 400 m, with a 30 cm wide canal and deep eyes for maintenance. Three initial branches, now extinct, converged towards a single conduit, suggesting a complex water supply system.

Ranked as early as 1840 among the first French historical monuments, the aqueduct remained in service until the end of the 19th century, despite repairs in 1869 to seal leaks making the water cloudy. Its route, studied since the 17th century, was described precisely in 1797 by explorers, then analysed in 1820 by Brillat-Savarin, owner of nearby Roman thermal baths. Remnants of hypocaustes attest to possible ancient thermal use.

The structure combines tunnels dug in the rock and trenches laid, with narrow sidewalks for maintenance. Its permanent abandonment in the 19th century marked the end of a continuous use of nearly 1,700 years, although its exact origin (city or private domain) remains uncertain. Historical sources, such as the works of Robert Bedon or Auguste Arêne, underline its importance in understanding Gallo-Roman hydraulic networks.

Today, the aqueduct is communal property. Its course, partially obstructed, ends at the fountain of l'Adoue, an artificial cave dug in the rock. The diverticules (secondary connections) and the variety of sources feeding the system reveal engineering adapted to the relief of Valromey, between plateaus and valleys.

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