Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The archaeological remains of Besançon are a set of Gallo-Roman structures discovered under the parking lot of the regional hotel, at the 4 square Castan. These excavations revealed key elements such as a section of the Besançon Waterway, the remains of a small theatre, as well as the foundations of an imposing building and a building with mosaics and heated rooms. These discoveries illustrate the urban importance of Vesontio, the ancient name of Besançon, during the Roman period.

The first archaeological explorations date back to 1870, initiated by librarian Auguste Castan. Other campaigns followed in 1885, and more recently in 1985, 1989 and 1990, which coincided with the construction of underground parking. The remains were protected by an order of inscription in the title of the Historical Monuments on 1 August 1990, completed in 2021 to include sections of the ancient waterworks known as d'Arcier, which traverses several neighbouring communes.

Arcier's aqueduct, a major part of this heritage, extends over the territories of Vaire, Chalèze, Montfalcon and Besançon. Its routes and plots were precisely defined by the decree of 2021, stressing its crucial role in the water supply of the Roman city. The remains, now owned by the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, offer a rare overview of infrastructure and daily life under the Roman Empire.

The Castan Square, where these remains are located, is named after Auguste Castan, a local figure who contributed to their discovery. The successive excavations allowed to partially reconstruct the urban organization of Vesontio, highlighting construction techniques and architectural uses typical of Roman Gaul. These elements are now accessible via the Merimée database and dedicated online resources.

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