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Origin and history

The Gallo-Roman remains of Châteaubleau, located in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region, are the remains of an ancient vicus developed from the second century. The site owes its expansion to via Agrippa, a Roman road linking Sens to Meaux, which crossed the village. Originally, Châteaubleau was probably a simple stop for travelers and horses, before turning into a structured urban centre with streets, artisanal districts and public monuments.

In the 2nd century, the economic prosperity of the Roman Empire enabled the building of a theatre of several thousand squares, two cultural ensembles (including a sanctuary of springs linked to a cult of healing waters), and an organized old network. These buildings mark the climax of the site, where Celtic influences (including Meldes and Senons) and Roman influences are mixed. The third century, despite the monetary crises of the Empire, saw the creation of a parallel currency manufacturing workshop around 260 to maintain trade.

The decline began in the fourth century, with a gradual abandonment of the village, the last traces of occupation dating from the fifth century. Rediscovered in the mid-19th century by teacher V. Burin, the remains were systematically searched from the 1960s onwards, revealing residential and craft districts. Today, the site is threatened by a lack of means of preservation, but local associations such as La Riobé and AGRIPPA are working to develop it, organizing Gallo-Roman festivals and promoting the creation of a museum.

Among the elements protected by historical monuments are the Gallo-Roman Theatre (classified in 1983), the substructures of the Sanctuary of Sources (registered in 1969), and the remains of ancient buildings (located in La Tannerie and La Justice). The site illustrates a cultural syncretism between Celtic traditions (cult of sources) and Roman architecture, as well as a strategic role on a major commercial axis.

The current excavations, conducted by F. Parthuisot and F. Pilon, focus on the restoration of the water sanctuary and the study of artisanal districts. The theatre and some of the remains are accessible to the public, while the summer campaigns (end of July to August) allow visitors to discover the current construction sites. Citizen mobilization aims to preserve this unique heritage, witness to Romanization in Brie.

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