Archaeology

LA VILLA DE SEVIAC, A LUXURIOUS 6500m² RURAL PALACE…
Located near the village of Montréal-du-Gers, the site of the Séviac villa has been known since the second half of the 19th century. It was regularly excavated until 1996. Excavations have uncovered a luxurious Gallo-Roman villa from late antiquity, built in the second half of the 4th century on top of an earlier villa. It was located at the heart of an agricultural and wine-growing complex that grew to 300 hectares. With a surface area of 6,500m², this villa is today considered one of the largest residences in southwest Gaul. It boasts an exceptional collection of mosaics and extensive thermal baths.

…WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF MOSAICS
The mosaics discovered on the site are only part of the original decor. Although they now cover 625m², specialists reckon that in the first half of the 5th century they must have adorned the villa over an area of almost 1500m². Laid in several campaigns since the second half of the 4th century, they adorned important spaces such as baths, galleries and ceremonial halls. Their geometric and vegetal decorations (vines, etc.) are representative of the Ecole d’Aquitaine, a stylistic school of mosaicists active in southwest Gaul between the late 4th and 6th centuries. The whole complex is so extensive that it was listed as a Historic Monument in 1978.

ELUSA ANCIENT CAPITAL
Villa de Séviac is one of three sites forming the “ELUSA Capitale Antique” archaeological cluster. So don’t hesitate to extend your experience in Eauze with a visit to the Domus de Cieutat and its fun, interactive Interpretation Centre, and the Musée du Trésor d’Eauze, the other two ELUSA sites! Experience history while having fun! ELUSA invites young and old alike to discover our heritage and have fun at the same time, with fun activities and friendly events all year round.