Cassinomagus !
Poï'z : Zigomatix Route's thematic: Gallo-Roman Route's difficulty: 2/5 Route's ground: 1/5 Route's duration: 1h-2h Route's distance: 2.00Kms
1 . Departure spot : Thermae carpark (N 45° 50.823' / E 000° 46.311')
Welcome to Cassinomagus, friends ! Our entire visit revolves around the centre of the old Roman city of Chassenon, or Cassinomagus in Latin. The town was mainly known for its thermal baths. It was an important town under the Roman Empire !
Oh my Zabeth...
2 . Thermae (N 45° 50.833' / E 000° 46.319')
These thermae were built from the 1st century AD and were used until the late 3rd century.
They are in very good shape despite their age and give us a good idea of what Ancient Roman architecture was like. They are certified Historical Monuments (since 1959) and are one of the country’s best preserved thermae! !
They are so well preserved that we are able to interpret the purpose of each room. Bathers would start in the first room : here they would warm their bodies up by exercising or go directly to the next room, which was warmer and so on…: tepidarium, sudatio and caldarium. The purpose was to expose themselves to thermal shock.
Then they would immerse themselves in cold water, in a frigidarium. Brrr, chilly! Thermae had a social purpose, but they were also used for hygiene, relaxing and sometimes healing. They were one of the most remarkable edifices in the Gallo-Roman civilization…
How many triangles pointing upwards are there on the jagged roof of the lobby ?
Write this number down. It is the equivalent of A. A =_____
Keep going straight ahead then take the dirt path between the two houses.
3 . Gallo-Roman gardens (N 45° 50.834' / E 000° 46.250')
Now you are walking along the gardens of Cassinomagus. You can visit the gardens as well as the thermae vestiges. Look, you can see them quite well from here!
Entrance to the archaeological park is 3,50 € for adults and just 1,50 € for kids. For further details, please go to the lobby...
There is a wide range of plant varieties which the Romans would use in every day life : in their food, as medicine and for decorative purposes too.
When you reach [gps]["N45°50.800'; ","E000°46.057'","45.8466666","0.7676166"], turn right along the road.
4 . The temple (N 45° 50.930' / E 000° 46.057')
During Antiquity, Cassinomagus was an important and attractive secondary conurbation of the province of Aquitainia, along the via Agrippa, one of the 5 main roads of Roman Gaul. It went from Lugdunum (Lyon) to Mediolanum Santonum (Saintes) via Augustoritum (Limoges)!
The main public edifices and monuments we know of in this ancient conurbation are the theatre, thermae and aqueduct. But there was another very important building for the inhabitants of Cassinomagus : a temple dedicated to the God of war, Mars! There’s nothing left of the temple today, except for that big bump in the ground, that the temple was built upon.
It was originally built upon a 50 metre wide podium, with an octogonal exterior and a circular 18 metre wide interior, but we do not know how high it was.
Romans would come here to honour Mars, the God of war ! He was one of the Romans’ favourite gods. He is said to be the father of Remus and Romulus, the two founders of the city of Rome. Legend has it that they were raised by a wolf…
Mars is also said to be the god of crops !
Find the answers to the following questions in the conversation between the poï’z.
Which god was the temple of Cassinomagus dedicated to ? Count the letters in his name.
Write this digit down. It is the equivalent of B. B =_____
What was the Roman name for the city of Lyon ? Count the letters in this name.
Write this digit down. It is the equivalent of C. C =_____
Stay on this road and head to the church.
5 . The church and meteorite (N 45° 51.110' / E 000° 45.893')
Did you notice how Gallo-Roman it looks, with its terracotta roof and impactite walls?
Impac… what ?! Sounds like something Superman would use to get his super powers ! No Zaïtek, but it is from outer space ! Impactites are meteorite stones ! A meteorite fell from the sky, between the towns of Rochechouart and Chassenon, 200 million years ago !
It’s like volcanic rock. When it crashed to the earth, it mixed with other types of rock.
Which gives it its incredible colours ! Red, ochre and even light blue !
Walk around the church.
Here is a Gallo-Roman boundary stone, which was recycled into a cross pedestal. It used to indicate the distance (in Roman numbers) to the next town.
You can also see a medieval Christ-like fresco. The church was built in the Middle Ages with stones from Cassinomagus Gallo-Roman amphitheatre. All of the Roman buildings were made of impactite, weren’t they?
Absolutely Zéroïk ! But only their walls. Granite was used to support the roofs of houses. Tiles for thermal baths were made of limestone and the marble they used was imported.
There are holes in the stones ! Remnants of WWII ?
No ! During the Antique period, stone cutters would identify the stones they cut by “signing” them this way. Each stone cutter had his own signature and signing stones was a good way to make sure they got paid !
Pretty clever !
At the end of which century was Chassenon church built ?
Write this number down. It is the equivalent of D. D =_____ What date is carved on the presbytery’s lintel ? Add the date’s 4 digits together to get a new 2 digit number.
Write this number down. It is the equivalent of E. E =_____
Leave the church and head to the next spot
6 . The cross (N 45° 51.142' / E 000° 45.965')
At the entrance of the path, there is a calvary and a cross. Such superstition! These types of crosses were often placed at crossroads and were used as landmarks, but also to ward off the devil!!
One of my Poï’z friends is hiding nearby. Can you find him ? Count the letters in his name.
Write this digit down. It is the equivalent of F. F =_____ Hint: I love History !
7 . The amphitheatre (N 45° 51.063' / E 000° 46.187')
This is where the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre used to be, on your right. You’ll have to use your imagination but if you have a good look at the ground, you’ll get a good idea of where it used to be.
Just like in Nîmes and in Arles, in southern France, only smaller. Amphitheatres were just like arenas where shows and religious ceremonies took place.
This site was used as a quarry from 1913 to 1936. They extracted impactite, the stone we were talking about just a little while ago. There’s even a sign on one of the houses in Chassenon, from the old quarry. It says “ Gallo-Roman arena quarry”.
There is a washouse nearby, where water from the old thermal baths used to flow. Under Juliuss Caesar, there were many thermal springs on the central massif. Romans used to believe that volcanic rock gave therapeutic qualities to water. The same thing goes for impactite!
What is the name of the pathway we are on ? It refers to Gallo-Roman thermal springs : 1) Chemin de fonts chaudes (Hot font pathway) 2) Chemin des bassins (Basin pathway) 3) Chemin des bains tièdes (Warm water pathway) Write the answer’s number down.
Write this digit down. It is the equivalent of G. G =_____
8 . The cache !
In order to find the cache, simply replace the letters in the coordinates below by the numbers you found on your way.
If your answers are all correct, the cache’s GPS coordinates will be green on the app. Click on "locate the cache" then let the app guide you!
Coordinates: N 45° 5(G).(G)0(C)' / E 000° 46.(D/F)(A)(E/B)' The mystery word is written in the log book, inside the container
To get back, head towards [gps]["N45°50.964'; ","E000°46.379'","45.8494","0.7729833"] near the aqueduct at [gps]["N45°50.823'; ","E000°46.452'","45.84705","0.7742"]
Well done, you have found the cache! See you soon for more adventures!
« Attention geocaching friends ! No need to lift rocks, pick walls apart, or uproot plants... the cache is most likely there, right before your eyes! Remember that your quest must remain environmentally friendly ! Thank-you ! »