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Alpine Trophy or Augustus Trophy à La Turbie dans les Alpes-Maritimes

Patrimoine classé
Vestiges Gallo-romain
Trophé romain
Temple Gallo-romain
Alpes-Maritimes

Alpine Trophy or Augustus Trophy

    3-5 Rue Capouane
    06320 La Turbie
State ownership
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Trophée des Alpes ou Trophée dAuguste
Crédit photo : Peter Gugerell - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Âge du Fer
Antiquité
Haut Moyen Âge
Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
100 av. J.-C.
0
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
10 av. J.-C.
Creation of the Civitas des Alpes Maritimae
7-6 av. J.-C.
Construction of the trophy
XIIe-XVe siècles
Transformation into a fortress
1705
Partial destruction by Louis XIV
1865
Historical Monument
Années 1930
Restoration by Jules Formigé
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The ruins: ranking by classification notice of 13 May 1865

Key figures

Auguste - Roman Emperor Sponsor of the trophy after his victory.
Louis XIV - King of France Ordained partial destruction in 1705.
Edward Tuck - American Philanthropist Finished restoration in the 1930s.
Jules Formigé - Architect Directed restoration work.
Pline l'Ancien - Ancient author Transcribed the Latin inscription of the trophy.

Origin and history

The Augustus Trophy, also known as the Alpine Trophy, is a commemorative Roman monument erected between 7 and 6 BC in La Turbie, Alpes-Maritimes. Located at the climax of Via Julia Augusta, it celebrates the final victory of Emperor Augustus over 44 Alpine tribes that controlled the passes and hindered trade and military exchanges between Italy and Narbonnaise. This trophy symbolically marks the pacification of the region and the creation of a safe way, via Julia Augusta, extending via Aurelia.

The Latin inscription engraved on its western facade, transcribed by Pline l--Ancien, sets out the names of the defeated peoples (Celtes, Ligures, Venus, etc.) and emphasizes the role of the Senate and the Roman people in this commemoration. The monument, originally 49 m high (35 m after restoration), was composed of a 38 m base, a 24 column rotunda, and a August statue. It served as a border between Italy and Narbonnaise, before this boundary was pushed back to the river Var.

Between the 12th and 15th centuries, the trophy was transformed into a fortress, with houses attached to its walls. In 1705 Louis XIV ordered his partial destruction to weaken the regional defences during the war against Savoy. The stones were reused, in particular to build the church Saint-Michel de La Turbie. Ranked a historic monument in 1865, it was restored in the 1930s thanks to the patronage of Edward Tuck, under the direction of architect Jules Formigé. Today, it is the main tourist attraction of La Turbie.

The trophy materials come from a Roman quarry located 500 m from the site, where traces of column size remain. The monument is part of a network of local Roman remains, including miles of via Julia Augusta and nearby Roman fountains (Beausoleil, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin). Its bimillennium, celebrated in 1994, gave rise to exhibitions and a light show.

In 10 B.C. the local people of the Vediantes, allies of Rome, benefited from the creation of the Civitas des Alpes Maritimae, of which the capital Cemenelum (now Cimiez, Nice) became an administrative center. The trophy, devoid of an initial military function, illustrates the Roman strategy of controlling the alpine routes and Romanizing the conquered territories. Its ruins, protected since 1865, bear witness to engineering and imperial propaganda under Augustus.

External links