Visit to the Gallo-Roman site of Cars

In the PNR of the Plateau de Millevaches come and visit a unique ancient site in Corrèze ! Free access all year round, it is a place that bears part of the history , foundations and past of Corrèze. A place of archaeology and conservation, nestled in the forest. These are the remains of two funerary monuments and a large villa from the Gallo-Roman era. If from afar it looks like a simple tangle of stones, thanks to the information given on site, you will understand all the genius of our ancestors who had already solved many problems (running water, drainage, heating) with ingenuity and good manners. An instructive place for everyone and in a high-quality natural environment.

Photos from the report: Corrèze Guide

A strategically positioned site

It is not for nothing that this Gallo-Roman villa was built here. The Plateau des Millevaches is a place at an altitude of about 800m, which enjoys a generous nature with all the necessary natural and food elements, while offering the attractions of a plateau, namely a beautiful exposure and easier movement than at the bottom of the valley. The Gallo-Roman Site of Cars was (like many) discovered by chance in 1917 and excavated from 1930. Marius Vazeilles the inventor (the one who discovered) is also the one who applied for grants to carry out excavations there. Thanks to his efforts, the site was classified in 1935 as a Historic Monument to protect it. You will find in Meymac , more information on the excavations and the site, at the Marius Vazeilles Museum in the Abbey which also houses a contemporary art center.

The name of the site comes from the Bac des Cars, which you will see on site, a huge block of cut granite, a cistern. Did you know that for a long time, these remains of a Gallo-Roman villa served as a stone quarry for the inhabitants, who therefore built their houses with these priceless artifacts of the past? It is estimated that the site dates from the ^2nd century, it is located near a probable Roman road and all around, agricultural areas must have been cultivated, hence the importance of the choice of the plateau to do so.

The Gallo-Roman villa of Les Cars

There are several monuments and groups of remains to discover on the Site des Cars. If you are interested in the subject, we recommend that you visit the very informative website of the Gallo-Roman Site des Cars . You will find information on the place, but also its geographical location and the astonishing and avant-garde construction techniques of our ancestors. You will be very impressed by the systems, particularly heating systems. The Romans refused to accept the inevitability of the climate, they developed ingenious and really common sense techniques for heating and benefiting from hot water in general: the Hypocaust System. Running water was also present in the villa, which is of a really substantial size, it was a wealthy owner!

We hope you enjoy your visit to the Site des Cars, immersed in the Gallo-Roman past of Corrèze!

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