Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Gallo-Roman thermal baths of Poitiers, located at 14 rue de la Bretonnerie, constitute a major architectural vestige of the Gallo-Roman period in the region. These baths, typical of Roman buildings dedicated to public baths, reflect the importance of hygienic and social practices in the cities of the Roman Empire. Their presence in Poitiers, then called Lemonum in Antiquity, underlines the role of this city as a cultural and economic crossroads in Roman Gaul.

Classified Historic Monument by order of 11 August 1986, the remains of the thermal baths (cadastral reference BS 23) are protected for their archaeological and heritage value. Their location, although documented (Insee code 86194, Vienna Department), shows a geographical accuracy that is considered satisfactory a priori (note 6/10), according to the available data. No additional information is provided on their current status, accessibility to the public or integration into a tourist journey.

The New Aquitaine region, inherited from the ancient Roman Aquitaine, is home to many comparable Gallo-Roman sites. At the time, the thermal baths were used not only for toilets, but also as a place of sociability, commerce and sometimes worship. Their construction met strict Roman architectural standards, with rooms dedicated to cold (frigidarium), hot (caldarium) and warm (tepidarium), often accompanied by hypocaust heating systems. These infrastructures illustrated the level of urban and technical development of Gallo-Roman cities.

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