Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Montlaures is an oppidum located a few kilometers northwest of Narbonne, occupied from the fifth century BC until the Middle Ages. During protohistory, this site belonged to the people of the Elisych and served as a stronghold and shopping centre, strategically located near the Aude River. Despite the creation of the Roman settlement of Narbonne (Narbo Martius) in 118 B.C., it remained intensely frequented for nearly 70 years before its gradual decline. The excavations, carried out since 1899, revealed objects (ceramics, coins) bearing witness to the Ibero-Language culture of its inhabitants.

The remains of Montlaurès were classified as historical monuments by decree of 16 February 1937, recognizing their archaeological importance. The site, owned by a private company, retains physical traces of its protohistoric and ancient past, although its access and conditions of visit are not specified in the available sources. His prolonged occupation, from the Iron Age to the medieval period, made him a key witness to the cultural and political transitions in Narbonnaise.

Archaeological research has highlighted the role of Montlaurès as a crossroads between Iberian and Celtic cultures, integrated into a network of Mediterranean exchanges. The proximity to Roman Narbonne underlines its importance in the territorial reorganization after the conquest, before its abandonment to the new city. The artifacts discovered, including ceramics and coins, shed light on the commercial and social practices of the Elisych people of the region.

External links