Construction of the track -118 (≈ 118 av. J.-C.)
Work begins under Cneus Domitius Ahenobarbus.
71 av. J.-C.
Pompey Trophy
Pompey Trophy 71 av. J.-C. (≈ 100 av. J.-C.)
Erection at Panissars Pass.
1963
Classification of terminals
Classification of terminals 1963 (≈ 1963)
Protection of Beaucaire Milestones.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Cneus Domitius Ahenobarbus - Proconsul roman
Initiator of the way in 118 B.C.
Pompée - Roman General
Tried the trophy at the Panissars Pass.
Origin and history
The Domitian Way (Via Domitia) is a Roman road built from 118 B.C. under the impulse of the proconsul Cneus Domitius Ahenobarbus, whose name it bears. It was designed to link Italy to the Iberian peninsula by crossing the Narbonnaise Gaul, thus facilitating military and commercial communications. The route crossed the Rhône at Beaucaire, where remains and miles still attest to its passage.
The route of Via Domitia is documented by ancient sources such as the Vicarello cups and the Puisinger table. At Beaucaire, the track was punctuated with miles, some of which still remain, such as the "Columns of Caesar" at the Clos d'Argence. These terminals indicated the distances between the cities and served as landmarks for travellers and Roman legions.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, certain sections of the Domitian Way remained in use in the Middle Ages, integrated into routes such as the Strata franca or Caminum Gallicum. In Beaucaire, the original route is still visible in the form of a reinforced dirt road, reflecting its historical importance in the ancient road network.
The Domitian Way played a key role in the economic development of the region, promoting exchanges between Roman cities such as Nîmes, Narbonne and Béziers. Its heritage continues today, with sections protected as historical monuments, notably at Beaucaire, where three miles have been classified since 1963.
According to legends, the Domitian Way would resume an older route, the Heracean Way, attributed to the Greek hero Heracles. However, its Roman construction was primarily a response to strategic and logistical needs, linking the conquered territories of Narbonnaise to the rest of the Empire.
The section of Beaucaire, marked by archaeological remains, illustrates Roman engineering: straight, the track consisted of stratified layers of gravel and pebbles, sometimes paved in urban areas. Its passage to Beaucaire, near the Rhône, made it a strategic crossing point between Provence and Languedoc.
