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Key figures

Origin and history

The Gallo-Roman villa of Les Prés Bas, discovered in 1963 and searched between 1976 and 1982, is located in Loupian, in the Hérault department, in the heart of Gallia Narbonensis. The site extends over three hectares south of the village and reveals the remains of a villa exceptionally rich in mosaics, occupied for more than 600 years. Originally, a modest farm was built near the Via Domitia, on a slope overlooking the Etang de Thau and the hill of Sète. Quickly prosperous, it was transformed into a large patrician residence under the High Empire (I–II century), equipped with thermal baths and a wine cellar capable of storing 1,500 hectolitres of wine in dolias. A small port and potter shop, producing amphoras stamped "M A F", testify to its export activity.

In the fifth century, the villa was entirely rebuilt into a sumptuous residence, decorated with unique mosaics mixing aquitaine and Syrian influences, perhaps reflecting the eclecticism of its owner or a desire for speed in the works. Two Mosaïst teams worked simultaneously to cover 450 m2 in six to eight months. These mosaics, classified as Historic Monument since 1970, include various motifs such as octagones, seasons, or svastikas. Nearby, a paleo-Christian church with a baptismal tank was located near the present Church of St.Cecile, highlighting the transition between Antiquity and Christianity.

Today, a 1,000 m2 structure protects the remains and mosaics. The site offers guided tours, in French and English in the summer, allowing to discover this heritage related to viticulture, Roman trade and local crafts. The excavations also revealed the strategic importance of the site, between Montpellier and Béziers, in the production and export of wine in Narbonnaise.

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