Towns and regions of art and history The Region Coëvrons-

discover the storyof Jublains, of october 1837 (Archives de la Direction du Patrimoine) de la Direction of october 1837 (Archives th roman town Prosper Mérimée / Letter from the 11 Mérimée / Letter from Prosper Whatever its date may be, the castle of Jublains is the the best preserved or to speak more exactly, less ruined of all the roman fortifications erected a unique and on our soil and, in this respect, it’s a highly interesting monument. Jublains, roman town Located at 35 km north from Laval, Jublains was in the Map of the Gaul. 1590. Antiquity, Noviodunum, ’ capital. This map from Abraham Ortelius tries to locate the gallish people named in the antic texts. It still has a lot of mistakes. It sites the Diablintes in the Finistère. On the border of a plateau Jublains is at the southeast corner of a round summit plateau. Situated in change of incline, the site dominates the Évron basin from 40 m. The horizon is closed to the east and to the southeast by a chain of high hills of which the highest are the Montaigu, the Mont Rochard and the hillock of Sainte-Suzanne. A modest valley, occupied by the Moulin Neuf stream, separates the town from the village of Doucé, at 1,3 km. The North and the West have no visibility from the summit of the plateau.

A granite underground The antique town lays on a granite ground. This large grained granite provided most of the materials for the building of walls and ways. Some clay and sand deposits are in the plain, until the Bias stream. The Gallo-roman A granite plateau also used a clear grey coarse grained sandstone for most of the constructions. It was used for columns and the base of the great wall of the fortress. At the end of the 19th century, the opening of a quarry at Pierre-Aiguë, on the district of Sainte-Gemmes-le-Robert, allowed to determine its origin. Some traces of an ancient exploitation, as some aban- doned column shafts, were discovered

there. Diablinte coin. (Archaeological museum of Jublains) Birth and decline of a town Mural fragment from thetemple. Pigeon. from theTiberius’ reign(14-37A.D.). the beginningofourera,particularly urbanisation ofthesitebeganaround “town” cannotbeemployedyet.The houses settlednearbybuttheword On theeveofconquest,afew extremity oftheantiquetown. sanctuary atJublains,thenorthern century B.C.,theGallichadedifieda Massif Armoricain.Fromthe4 which spreadsoutfromtheSeineto ethnic groupsoftheAulerque’s nation, belonged totheDiablintes,oneof the Romans,territoryofJublains Before theconquestofGaulby ofNoviodunumThe birth th departments. Thecouncillorsmetatthe Mayenne andthesouthofOrne which strechedovertwothirdsofthe main townoftheDiablintes’city, people area.Noviodunumbecamethe corresponding tothemainGallic kind ofself-governingmicro-states Augustus (27B.C.-14A.D.)incities; The Gaulwasorganisedbytheemperor The capital ofacity previous urbanplan. dwellings werescattered,withouta men settledin.Atthebeginning, Noviodunum (“NewTown”) ascrafts- The towntookthenameof theatre tohiscity. Orgétorix, offereda these localnotables; the town.Oneof forum, theheartof a peakduringthe crisis whichreached was facedwitha the Romanempire In the3 A vanishedcapital rd century, (Baron de Wismes’ engraving. 1862) Children before thefortress. the beginningof10 the Carolingianperiod.Itvanishedat Nevertheless, thetownsubsisteduntil some quartersbecamecemeteries. .IntheearlyMiddleAges, origin oftheMaine,whosecapitalwas into theCenomans’one:thatis the Diablintes’citywasincorporated tion ofcapitalduringthe5 the townwasdeclining.Itlostitsposi- stony wall,remainedunfinished.But fortress bytheconstructionofanouter earthen rampart.Itbecamethenareal close toJublains,wassurroundedbyan pressure. Afortifiedbuilding,settled peasants revoltedagainstthetax cally invadedbyGermans.Some years 260-285.TheGaulwasperiodi- reused thestonespickedupinJublains. further: atMayenne,whereapalace new powerplaceasserteditself,10km Jugs th century, asa th century, as Noviodunum The first town developed itself in an anarchic manner. Then, it transformed at the end of the 1st century A. D. and adopted all the urban principles and the equipment of the Roman cities.

The urban project In the second half of the 1st century A. D. the inhabitants undertook some great work which changed the aspect of the town. They started in replacing the old Gallic temple by a monument in stone around 66-68. The theatre took place at the southern border, on the side of the pla- teau, 800 m further from the temple. Between these two monuments the streets adopted a geometric network covering 25 ha and dividing the space into rectangular An antique urbanism example islands. Two others monuments are on the north-south axis of the town: the forum and the baths. A fortified building was built at the borders of the town. The urban project was realised in its broad lines but never utterly finished. 3 The fortress 7 4

The Gallo-roman fortress is the largest and 1 5 2 the best conserved monument, but also 6 a real riddle concerning its functions.

A composite monument the invasion rumours, the piracy acts This fortified set was not built in one along the Channel or the peasant time. It results from the addition of revolts. three fitted together elements; a central against Saxon pirates. Yet, owing to building, then, an earthen rampart The stone rampart 3 a changing of project, the work was preceded by a gap and a surrounding The Roman Empire recovered itself, given up before the completion of the wall. Its function might have evolved under the emperor Diocletien’s reign. wall. The fortress was deserted in the th during these transformations. He reorganized it in instituting the 4 century A. D. whereas Jublains was Tetrarch (two Supremes to govern the irremediably declining. The central building 1 Occident, two others to govern the Maybe built around 200 A. D., the Orient). It coincided with the beginning central building is a large room with of the construction of the outer wall, a central yard4 , endowed with a floor around 295. It may aim at turning the and 4 square towers at its corners5 . site into a real fortress for the resup- It is accompanied by two small baths plying of the camps which settled on buildings6 7 . The thickness of the the Channel coasts in order to struggle walls and the locking system of the doors by wooden boards give a defensive character to the edifice. The archaeologists have not agreed yet to consider this edifice as civil ware- house or as a fort. Some recent studies hint that there was a military presence

An enigmatic monument in the region from the 1st century A. D.

The earthen rampart 2 Initially endowed with a large gap, it was realised around 290, in a context of troubles. The multiplication of buried treasures of this period prove the fears of populations concerning The baths The theatre Built during the transformation It marked the southern limit of of the town, they are nowadays the town. Two buildings succee- located under the church. ded themselves on this place.

From the baths… The Orgétorix’s gift to his city The baths were built about the end of … To the church The theatre is on the southern side of the 1st century. They are settled in an After 350, Christianity spreads out into the plateau on which the town stret- island, in the main axis of the town; the West, in the towns first. About the ched out. It thus benefits from the th their building thus succeeded to the 5 century, the Noviodunum baths, natural slope, completed on its sides setting up of the urban plan. Striking unused, were converted into churches. by cuts in order the spectators to domi- monument of the town and symbol of In pulling down the partitions and fil- nate the scene. An inscription, exhibited the Romanization, they were a place of ling up the basins, the faithful got a in the museum revealed that this hygiene, sport and therapy but also lengthened room fitted to their liturgi- theatre was offered to the town by a a civic and cultural life one. The monu- cal needs instead of the pagan temple person: Orgétorix, surely a rich mental set was delimited by a portico, which had never been aimed at greeting Diablinte, member of the Decurion shops and rooms of various functions; a faithful assembly. Modified during order, who ruled the city. The antique reading, fight training etc. The baths centuries, the church kept its Gallo- notables justified their power in offe- building was in the middle of this set. roman masonries of several meters high ring some presents to the community. The bather came in by a small yard. until 1877, where it was utterly recons- With its elliptic shape, Orgétorix’s t He left his clothes in the cloakroom tructed. Thus, the base of the walls and heatre distinguishes itself from the

and crossed the cold and warm rooms the concave parts, basins or hypocaust theatres Two classical Roman models, notably by to perspire in the sweat room and (heating by the soil system), are the the lack of the stage wall, replaced by washed himself in the hot baths. only remnants of the roman building. a small semi-circular building. It is Finally, he came back on his steps to characteristic of a few monuments The heat and the cold bathe in the cold baths. The succession built in Gaul on the 1st century A. D. of cold and hot baths results of a use of baths definitively established around 80 A. D. 1 Cold baths room 11 2 First state of the cold baths

8 3 Later state of the cold baths 4 7 Annexe basin 6 5 5 10 Warm room 9 6 Hypocaust supports 4 3 1 7 Remnant of the overhanging soil 2 8 Sweat room

9 Early Middle Ages tomb

10 Constructions under the square

11 Hot baths room The temple In 66-68 A. D. its reconstruction was the starting point of the urban landscape transformation.

The second theatre The sanctuary of the city At a remained unknown date (maybe Its reconstruction began about 66-68 the second half of the 2nd century), the and pursued until the 120 years. theatre was rebuilt at the same place. Located at the doors of the town, Larger than the preceding one, the new this wide proportioned monument building adopted a semi-circular form. was the Diablintes’ sanctuary: It also comprises a wide area surroun- here was practised the main cult of 1 Peribolus ded by a wooden fence and destined to the city maybe associated with the 2 Western entrance the shows. This ones might have evol- imperial cult. 3 Inner portico ved: beside stage representations, some 4 Temple gladiators fights, hunts etc. developed A local goddess in a classical temple 5 Podium structure themselves. The outer wall (or peribolus) is a 6 square of 78 m side. Inside, 4 porticoes Staircase constitute a kind of cloister surrounding 7 Shell 1 Outlines of the second theatre the sacred area where the temple which 8 Building for ablutions 2 Outlines of the first theatre sheltered the divine statue, is situated. 9 Half-circular basin 3 Corridor access of the vomitorium Of peripteral* plan, it rises on a 10 Eastern entrance 4 Place of the tiers podium and adopts the Corinthian 5 Entertainment area of the second theatre order. Some fragments of a statue were

6 Orchestra of the first theatre found. They represent the Mother Goddess under the shape of a woman 7 Iron Age stele sat down in an armchair. This divinity 8 Stage building of the first theatre A gallo-roman temple A gallo-roman belongs to the Celtic pantheon but was 9 South-east corner of the second theatre (best preserved part) surely assimilated to a Latin goddess during the Gallo-roman period.

1 * Peripteral: 10 3 4 the cella (room) sheltering 2 4 the statue is surrounded 5 6 by a colonnade gallery on 9 5 its four sides. 2 3 1 7

6 7 8 9

8 Let’s tell you the story of Coëvrons-Mayenne, a region of art and history ...... in the company of a guide-lecturer autorised by the ministery of culture. The guide will welcome you. He knows all about Coëvrons- Mayenne and will give you the vital elements required to unders- tand the scale of a landscape, the story of the region in its different areas. The guide is there for your benefit, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

The heritage mediation service runs the region of art and history Coëvrons-Mayenne. It organises events throughout the year for individuals and groups (adults and school children) .

If you are with a group Coëvrons-Mayenne offers visits throughout the year subject to reservation.

Coëvron-Mayenne is part of the national network of towns and regions of art and history The architecture and heritage division of the ministry of culture and communication attributes the name of “towns and regions of Informations: art and history” to local communities which promote their heri- Region of art and history tage. It guarantees the skills of guide-lecturers and promoters of 1, Fouquet de la Varenne street heritage and the quality of their activities. From ancient remains to 53270 SAINTE-SUZANNE XXIst century architecture, the towns and regions present their tél. 02 43 58 13 00 heritage in all its diversity. A network of 146 towns and regions is email : currently in existence throughout . [email protected]

Museum of Jublains Nearby sites, 13, Libération street Laval, Le Mans, Angers, Vitré, Fougères, Nantes, Guérande, 53160 JUBLAINS Fontenay-le-Comte and Saumur have been granted the name tél. 02 43 58 13 20 “town of art and history”; the Perche Sarthois et the Vallée du email : Loir have been granted the name “region of art and history”. [email protected]

Cov. Aerial view of Jublains, Bearded God. Cov. graphics conception : CG53 Patrimony service from LM Communiquer. Photos : CG 53, Bertrand Bouflet.