I have travelled the full length of the roman road where possible with my motorcycle
in 2005. These visits comprise many roads and rural pathes where the roman road is still
in use today as well as some offroad sections where the roman road was located with
good maps and GPS. This placemark file is a collection of my GPS routes and tracks,
which indicate those sections which I consider to be identified as parts of the
2000-years-old road. Even though I consulted plenty of literature I pass this information
to you without warranty. Simply go there and see for yourself!
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Section Beaucaire-Nimes (Ugernum Nemausus)
The roman road crossed the the river Rhone in Beaucaire (Ugernum) by ferry.
In the west of the city there are three pieces of road named "Chemin des Romains". These perfectly
match the line which markes the former trace of the via domitia. View "Chemin des Romains" in Beaucaire. View "Chemin des Romains" near Jonquieres St. Vincent. Further west the roman road is today's D999. There is a milestone at D999 and D135. More milestones are at mile 9,10,13,15 counted
from Nimes towards Beaucaire.
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Milestone 13, Peyrous Plantadous
Between Nimes and Beaucaire the miles were counted from the Porta Augusta at Nimes. The 13th mile is
a location with 4 milestones preserved at their original position. 3 of them are well preserved while one
is only a small fraction left on the ground. Today the original inscriptions which were carved into the stones
are barely visible. Today the Via Domitia here is preserved as a promenade near to a large quarry, only accessibly
on foot. (gps N 43.81609°, O 4.59931°)
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christianized milestone
Almost exactly one roman mile along the Via Domitia west of the ensemble of milestones one finds this cross.
Could this be a roman milestone converted at a later date? West of this position there is a steep slope not
suitable for cars.
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Milestone 10
Further east at the tenth mile there are again several stones visible. One is standing upright and the mark X for
the roman number ten is clearly visible. There are 3 more fragments. Usually, a milestone was erected whenever
the road was refurbished. The stones honor the emperor in reign who ordered the repair works. The vary in style
according to the time when they were erected. Therefor, often several stones existed for the same mile. However,
many stones have been displaced and used elsewhere or disappeared. One such displaced milestone may be found in the chapel
St.Laurent in Jonquieres north of here.
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Milestone 9
Milestone 9 is in a small forest along the Via Domitia which is a rural drive way. Further to the west the Via Domitia
is covered by tarmac of the D999.
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Milestone 7
A milestone erected in the year 32 B.C. under the emperor Tiberius is preserved. A copy of it is diplayed at the
crossroad leading to the village Manduel. There should be another milestone on display further towards the village
but I was not able to locate it.
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Milestone 4
The location of mile 4 is marked by a modern display at the crossroad of the D999 and the D135.
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The Via Domitia in Nimes, France
The via domitia entered the city of Nimes (Nemausus)through a gate still visible today (Porte Auguste)
an left the town west of the amphitheatre (Arenes) through a gate today named Porte de France. Further
remarkable tourist attraction from the roman times: the Maison Carree (probably the most well conserved roman temple
in this world), the Tour Magne, the Castellum Divisiorum (central distribution pond of the roman water supply system for the city)and a part of the roman town wall.
kmz-files:
Porte Auguste
Porte de France
Castellum Divisorium
La Tour Magne
Maison Carree
roman wall
Arenes
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