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Origin and history

The Roman Camp of Champallement, dated from the 3rd century, is a Gallo-Roman military vestige located at the place known as Champagne-Manoir, on the commune of Champallement (Nièvre). This site illustrates the late Roman presence in the region, although its exact role (defensive, logistical or temporary) is not detailed in the available sources. It was classified as a Historical Monument by order of 16 July 1976, thus protecting a specific cadastral parcel (section A, number 655).

The town of Champallement, crossed by ancient routes like the one linking Entrains to Autun, also houses the remains of a Gallo-Roman vicus in Compierre, active between the 1st and the 4th century. This rich archaeological context suggests a lasting Roman occupation in the area, with civil infrastructures (sanctuary, theatre) and handicrafts (a workshop for tailors). The Champallement camp is therefore part of a wider network of ancient sites, although its precise characteristics (size, garrison, duration of use) remain poorly documented.

In the Gallo-Roman era, Burgundy-Franche-Comté was a region of transition between the Celtic territories and the Roman administration. Military camps such as Champallement were often used to control communication lines or to protect strategic areas. Their abandonment in the fourth century coincided with the political upheavals and invasions that marked the end of the Roman Empire in Gaul. However, no source mentions specific events related to this camp or its direct link to the nearby Vicus of Compierre.

Excavations and studies conducted in the 20th century (notably by J.A. Palet in the 1960s and 1970s) focused on Compierre's vicus, revealing an octagonal fanum, a theatre and houses. The Roman Camp of Champallement, on the other hand, has not been the subject of detailed archaeological descriptions in the available texts. Its classification in 1976, however, indicates its heritage importance, although its current state of conservation is not specified.

Today, the site is referenced in the heritage databases (Monumentum, Mérimée) with an approximate location (GPS coordinates: 16 Champagne Manoir, 58420 Champallement). No information is provided on its accessibility to the public or on any recent excavations. The sources are limited to its identification as a Roman camp of the third century, without details of its plan, ramparts or internal organization.

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