Establishment of the camp 52 av. J.-C. (≈ 100 av. J.-C.)
Established after taking the hill by the Romans.
27 janvier 2015
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 27 janvier 2015 (≈ 2015)
Registration by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
In total, the Little Camp of Caesar of the Battle of Gergau (of its right-of-way to the ground), as delimited on the plan annexed to the decree (Box ZL 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 182; AC 3): inscription by order of 27 January 2015
Key figures
Jules César - General and Roman author
Describes the camp in his account of the battle.
Origin and history
The Little Camp of Caesar of the Battle of Gergau is a secondary Roman camp established in 52 BC in the commune of La Roche-Blanche (Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). Located at the foot of Gergau's oppidum, it occupied a strategic hill, protected by a cliff to the south and fossilized works. It was approximately 7 hectares in size and connected to the Grand Camp by a secure way, as Julius Caesar described in his account of the battle. Excavations revealed the vestiges of the daily life of the legionnaires (amphores, fireplace plates) as well as traces of Roman armament characteristic of the end of the Republic.
The site delivered revealing artifacts, such as a Gallic silver coin, suggesting that the Roman soldiers used local currency for their pay, as Caesar did not hit any currency during the Gauls' War. The abundant military remains (fossed, sloped, delimitating pillars bearing Roman inscriptions) confirm its role as a fortified camp. The small camp thus illustrates the techniques of Roman siege and the logistic organization of legions during conflicts, like the one opposing Caesar to Vercingetorix.
Ranked a historical monument by decree of 27 January 2015, the Little Camp of Caesar is today a major archaeological site to understand the battle of Gergau. Its protection includes all its right-of-way to the ground, including communal and private parcels. The monolithic pillars still visible recall the Roman occupation, while the continuous excavations enrich the knowledge of military life and the strategies of conquest at the end of the Iron Age.
