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Origin and history

The Gallo-Roman rampart of Evreux is an enclosure built between the end of the third and the middle of the fourth century to protect Mediolanum Aulercorum, capital of the Civitas of the Aulerques Eburovices. It is 1,145 m long and delimits a quadrilateral of nine hectares, incorporating spoliated elements (columns, carved blocks) of earlier buildings. Its route follows partly Gaulish streets and embraces natural contours, such as the creek of Espringale or Iton.

Construction takes place in a context of the military crisis of the Roman Empire, although its exact role (defensive or symbolic) remains debated. A first attempt at fortification in the third century, unfinished, precedes this rampart. It deliberately excludes the monumental centre (theatre, thermal baths), suggesting a conversion of urban priorities towards defence. The excavations since the 19th century and the visible remains (notably near the cathedral and museum) make it one of the best preserved Gallo-Roman ensembles in Normandy.

Composed of an opus mixtum (limestone, flint, bricks), the rampart reaches 5.10 m in height preserved for a base of 3.80 m wide. Its exterior trim, partially collapsed in 2021, shows an inverted corbellation to strengthen stability. Three doors and a poterne are supposed to be, but no tower has been identified. A 40 m glacis and an inner agger (4 to 14 m wide) complete the device, although their exact function (strong against saps?) remains uncertain.

Ranked a historic monument in 1941 and 1984 (remaining parts listed in 1996), the rampart illustrates the adaptation of the Gallic cities to the unrest of the Lower Empire. Its irregular layout, adapted to terrain and streams, reveals pragmatic planning. The massive spoliations of materials (column drums, capitals) also reflect the decline of public buildings in favour of a prestigious enclosure, a symbol of resistance and urban continuity.

The site is now shared between private, departmental and communal properties. Part of the museum is visible in the basement of the Evreux Museum, while sections of the historic centre, such as along the Iton or the Sighs' gangway, are visible. These remains, together with those of Gisacum (neighbor Sanctuary), offer a unique insight into the urbanization and cults of the Aulerques Eburovices.

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