For culture enthusiasts, Vieux is best explored through the Roman archaeology of Vieux-la-Romaine. Houses and a Gallo-Roman forum reveal different aspects of the site: private dwellings stand alongside a large square with a temple, senate, archives, basilica and offices for local affairs. This provides a clear focus for planning your trip, bringing together architecture, social context and public functions.
Comparing Roman houses
The Maison au Grand Péristyle covers 1,400 m² and was built following the model of Roman houses. Its courtyard garden is bordered by a colonnaded gallery. This luxurious residence of a notable is located in the forum’s upmarket district. These features can be considered together: the gallery frames the garden, while the house’s size and status as a residence define its character.
The Maison à la Cour en U offers a different perspective: it is a modest dwelling in a district shaped by crafts and trade. Alongside the luxurious residence, it makes two contrasts tangible—the type of dwelling and its social surroundings. This comparison goes beyond individual building names and helps explain the different living and residential contexts of the site.
The forum and Roman garden
The Gallo-Roman forum consists of a large square with a temple, the senate, archives, a basilica and offices for local affairs. This combination shows how many different public and administrative functions came together in this place. A Roman garden is also part of the archaeological complex. Exploring the houses and the forum means moving between residential architecture and the facilities of a large public square—a change of perspective for anyone interested in Roman life.
Different ways to experience the site
There are also different ways to visit. The Maison au Grand PĂ©ristyle can be visited outdoors; the Maison Ă la Cour en U is viewed from a footbridge offering an overview of the site. This brings together a visit to a house in the open air and a view of the site as a whole. Guided tours of the forum excavation site are offered on certain days in July and August. As dates and availability may change, check the current schedule before your trip.
Museum and practical planning
The Vieux-la-Romaine Museum complements a visit to the archaeological site with models, tactile objects and other interactive features. This means that interpretation is not limited to looking at the site: models, touch and interaction offer an engaging way to explore the archaeological topics. If you want to understand the architecture of the houses and the functions of the forum, the museum offers a complementary perspective on the Roman past.
Vieux-la-Romaine offers workshops for children; the specific programme may vary. If you would like to include these activities in your plans, check the dates for your travel period. Adaptations are available for visitors with motor, hearing or intellectual disabilities. If you need specific arrangements, check in advance which adaptations are relevant to your visit. Vieux-la-Romaine is also near the VĂ©loFrancette; for travellers following this route, it is a useful reference point when planning.
Discover more destinations: MĂ©zidon-Canon, Chicheboville, Manvieux, Cambes-En-Plaine, Bazenville, Sainte-Croix-Grand-Tonne, Eraines, Bourgeauville
For the wider travel guide: Calvados.
