Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The ruins of the Gallo-Roman villa of Membery, discovered in 1838, form a rectangular complex of 200 meters by 70, including a multi-winged building with about 60 bedrooms. Mosaics, whose stones were extracted locally, bear witness to its architectural importance. The site, classified as a historical monument in 1846, is located at the Vernois wood site, near the Saône and the ancient ancient city of Seveux (Segobodium), on the road linking Besançon (Vesontio) to Langres (Andemantunnum).

The villa was built in the first century, then enlarged in the second century before being abandoned in the fourth century. Its fortuitous discovery in the 19th century brought to light a major archaeological heritage, illustrating the Roman occupation in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. The remains suggest an aristocratic residence or a prosperous agricultural estate, typical of Gallo-Roman villa.

The site is part of an ancient dense network, less than one kilometre from Seveux, itself Galloromain city. The nearby Roman route, a strategic axis between Besançon and Langres, reinforced the economic and logistical importance of the region. The mosaics and the size of the complex indicate a high standard of living, probably linked to the exploitation of local resources (agriculture, stone).

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