Clonas-sur-Varèze combines archaeological history with a hillside location between the Plateau de Louze and the Rhône plain. The Villa de Licinius was located through excavations beneath the present-day village centre. Its finds, other works of art and a circular walk starting at the town hall square offer different perspectives on the area, from the story of its discovery to the landscape.
The Villa de Licinius and the Mosaic of the God Oceanus
A wall painting and a large mosaic are on display in a building commissioned by the municipality in 2007. The Mosaic of the God Oceanus was discovered in August 1996 and dates from the 2nd century AD. The discovery date and the date of creation describe different stages in its history: the work was created in antiquity and excavated many centuries later.
Carefully restored by the Ateliers de Saint-Romain-en-Gal, the mosaic and the excavated archaeological remains are now on public display in the museum area of the Villa de Licinius. The discovery, restoration and current presentation are all part of a visit, even though the findspot and the exhibition do not have to be in the same place: the villa was located beneath the present-day village centre, while the works of art are displayed in the building commissioned by the municipality.
Visits and cultural programme
The Villa de Licinius offers both self-guided and guided visits. The programme also includes concerts as part of “Allées chantent” and educational workshops for primary school, collège and lycée. Travellers can therefore focus on the archaeological exhibition or on the cultural and educational programme. The specific programme may vary; if a concert or workshop is important to your plans, it is worth checking the current dates.
A historical event is also linked to the story of the discovery: to mark the 30th anniversary of the mosaic’s discovery, the municipality, the Association Janus and village associations celebrated the occasion with a Gallo-Roman celebration. The event shows how the archaeological find also became an occasion for a shared cultural celebration beyond the exhibition; it should be understood here as a past event.
Paintings and church furnishings
Another artistic highlight is the painting “Saint Margaret”. It depicts the standing saint against a rocky landscape, with a dragon at her feet. Since 14 June 2007, the painting has been listed as a movable cultural property. The ciborium in the sacristy of Église Sainte-Marguerite has also been listed as a movable cultural property since that date.
The two works have different points of focus: the painting centres on a depicted scene, while the ciborium is identified by its connection to the sacristy of Église Sainte-Marguerite. Together, they broaden the perspective beyond the archaeological finds. Art lovers will find, alongside the mosaic, an image and an object from the church furnishings, each connected to Clonas-sur-Varèze in its own way.
Hillside location and circular walk
Clonas-sur-Varèze is located on a west-facing hillside. To the east, the hillside connects the 250-metre-high Plateau de Louze with the alluvial plain on the left bank of the Rhône at an elevation of 160 metres. These elevations distinguish the two landscapes and make the transition from plateau to plain clear; the difference between the stated elevations is 90 metres.
For a walk, the Le Plateau de Louze circular route is another specific point of reference: it starts at the town hall square in Clonas-sur-Varèze. The landscape and route details answer different planning questions. The elevations describe how the plateau and Rhône plain relate to one another; the starting point tells you where the circular route begins.
Discover more destinations: Chozeau, Villette-D'anthon, Pont-En-Royans, Veyssilieu, Saint-Pierre-D'allevard, Herbeys, La Salette-Fallavaux, La Forteresse
For the broader travel overview: Isere.
