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Origin and history

The Gallo-Roman sanctuary of the Pont des Arches, in Villards-d-Heria (Jura), was a sacred place for the Gaulian people of the Sequanes, whose territory corresponded to the present Franche-Comté. Built around a resurgence of Heria Creek, it was linked to the temples identified near Lake Antre, 1 km upstream, where the losses of Heria are located. This site, mentioned in the 16th century, was studied by Pierre-Joseph Dunod at the end of the 17th century, but scientific excavations did not begin until 1960 under the direction of Lucien Lerat, continuing until 1982. Campaigns resumed in 2019 and are expected to last until 2025.

The monumental remains, dating from the 1st to the 3rd century, include a bridge with arches on the Heria, a cult complex with a temple and a sacred source (the "Roman well"), connected by galleries to a seaside area comprising two ritual pools and offering trunks. The ancient name of the site remains unknown, and no nearby Gallo-Roman agglomeration is attested. The remains were protected from 1948 (aqueduct), 1965 (archeological site) and 1992 (other elements), allowing a public opening from 1995 to 2013, before a closure for climatic damage. Since 2020, the site is accessible a few days a year in summer, with a virtual tour available online.

The preservation of the site illustrates the challenges of archaeological restoration, favouring protection without permanent reconstruction. A project of covering by metal-textile structures (teflonized roofs) was designed to house the remains without altering their authenticity, avoiding any symmetry or reference to ancient forms. This project, the result of collaboration between archaeologists, architects and restaurateurs, aims to reconcile scientific protection and public accessibility. Covers, worn by poles placed outside the remains, must protect key areas such as balneum ( ritual baths) and nymph (sanctuary-fontaine), while integrating plant screens against wind and snow.

The Sequence Sanctuary consists of two parts: a "bottom" sanctuary around the Bridge of the Arches, and a "top" sanctuary near Lake Antre, where monumental architectural blocks (such as a collapsed arc) and the foundations of a large rectangular temple and a circular temple have been identified. These elements, which are partially reused (such as the bend of a sawmill), demonstrate the cultural importance of the site. The excavations revealed Gallo-Roman construction techniques, such as partition foundations studied by Alberic Olivier in 1984.

The multidisciplinary approach of the site highlighted the need to integrate archaeology, preservation and technical innovation without yielding to fanciful reconstructions. The 1985 Design-Realization Clusters Act has framed this project, where support poles are located outside the remains to avoid deterioration. Covers, designed as light umbrellas, must preserve ancient drains while allowing secure public circulation via suspended bridges. This model could inspire other archaeological sites facing similar conservation and recovery issues.

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