The Gergovie plateau, a historic site

The Gergovie plateau, a historic Arvernian stronghold, is today renowned for the wealth of its archaeological remains. Occupied since Neolithic times, it became a major fortified oppidum during the Iron Age. Since the 19th century, numerous excavations have uncovered key elements of this occupation: artisanal quarters, paved roads, the remains(…)

The Gergovie plateau, a historic Arvernian stronghold, is today renowned for the wealth of its archaeological remains. Occupied since Neolithic times, it became a major fortified oppidum during the Iron Age. Since the 19th century, numerous excavations have uncovered key elements of this occupation: artisanal quarters, paved roads, the remains of a vast central square and a monumental gateway.

Between 1935 and 1949, major investigations uncovered remarkable structures, including a Gallo-Roman villa. Since 1995, new methods have enabled us to pinpoint the exact location of the Roman camps that surrounded the plateau during the famous battle of Gergovie in 52 B.C. These recent discoveries, supported by modern technologies, shed valuable light on the military organization, urban planning and daily life of the Gauls.

The Musée Archéologique de la Bataille de Gergovie (Battle of Gergovie Archaeological Museum) showcases these advances by offering regular guided tours of the plateau. These tours enable visitors to discover the history of the site and the remains that can still be seen. A unique opportunity to plunge into the heart of an exceptional Gallic heritage.

An interpretation trail completes this immersion, tracing the site’s history through several major periods. Four viewpoints line the plateau, offering vantage points, reconstructions and readings of the landscape – from the battle of Gergovie to the Arverne capital Augustonemetum, via the natural panorama and the commemorative monument built in 1900.