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Origin and history

The Reims cryptoportic is a Gallo-Roman underground gallery, called horreum, built around the year 100 in the form of a U. Located under the present Forum square, it was the northern part of the Roman forum of Durocortorum (Ancient Reims), a major public space measuring about 65 m wide by 250 m long. Its small-scale walls and tiled mortar vaults, supported by pillars, bound boxes with walls decorated with coloured stuccos. A monumental entrance, with a rotating staircase, overlooked an altar dedicated to the statue of the emperor. The site, partially destroyed during the invasions of the fourth century, was rediscovered in 1922 during works for the Central Halls, revealing a room 52 m long and 5.70 m high.

Ranked a historic monument in 1923, the cryptoportic was for a long time neglected, despite the creation of a grassed terrace and a metal staircase in 1932, when the square was renamed the Forum Square. Systematic excavations began only in 1982, conducted by volunteers of the Champagne Archaeological Society. This work allowed for the consolidation of a 65 cm deep pillar and the restoration of two collapsed vaults, leading to the opening of the eastern part to the public in 1983. The site, owned by the commune, now attracts visitors (3 160 in 2002) and serves as a framework for cultural events, such as concerts or exhibitions.

The Roman forum, located at the intersection of the Cardo and the Decumanus, was the nerve centre of ancient economic life. Its decline, linked to the fall of the Roman Empire, led to an urban retreat and a disorderly occupation of space. Despite this, the memory of the forum persisted in the local toponymy. In the 18th century, the urban rationalization of Reims took place in Place Royale and Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, without altering its historical basement. The remains, partially preserved under houses rebuilt after World War I, illustrate the city's adaptation to its ancient heritage.

The archaeological discoveries of cryptoportics are part of a broader history of accidental rediscoveries. By 1840, columns had been exhumed during the construction of the old halls, without triggering excavations. In 1922, the demolition of these halls to build the central Halls brought to light the underground structure, but the nearby houses, recently rebuilt after 1918, limited exploration. These constraints explain why only part of the monument, under the place of the Forum, is accessible today. The nearby site with the Museum-Hotel Le Vergeur and an outdoor theatre, highlighting its integration into the cultural heritage of the Remois.

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