Villa gallo-romaine de Diénay

While ploughing their fields, farmers discovered archaeological remains. Aerial photographs taken by René Goguey in 1962 made it possible to draw up the plan of a large Gallo-Roman villa. In 1974, the construction of a new road began without prior notice, passing over the very spot where the villa was located and threatening to destroy the remains. The work was finally suspended so that rescue excavations could be carried out.
The various test pits and excavations revealed a villa with a classical plan comprising buildings organised around a courtyard measuring approximately 40 m on each side with a residential part (pars urbana) and a part reserved for agricultural work (pars rustica). Several rooms have been identified in the residential part, notably the baths. It can also be assumed that the large rooms were intended for the owners and other smaller ones were of a utilitarian nature or reserved for the staff. The discovery of fragments of wall paintings and marble veneers, some of which come from Greece or Algeria, also allows us to affirm that the villa was richly decorated.

Today the traces of the villa are no longer visible but a monument made from elements excavated during the excavations was erected in 1978 at its location, at the intersection of the D6 and the D901.


By plowing their fields, farmers have discovered archaeological vestiges. Some aerial images made by René Goguey in 1962 have permitted to establish a plan of a great Gallo-Roman villa. In 1974, without authorization a road construction has begun, on the same place where was located the villa, threatening the vestiges. Work is adjourned, in order to realize excavations. Several pieces have been identified in the residentials part like baths. They discovered mural paint fragments and marble claddings whose some are from Algeria or Greece, which can affirm that the villa was richly decorated. Nowadays, the villa marks are no longer visible, but a monument has been erected in 1978 from elements excavated.