History
article | Reading time8 min
With its many remains, the Montmaurin site is an open-air page of history! From prehistoric life to ancient settlements, discover the richness of these incredible testimonies to the past.
Two periods of occupation
Montmaurin, a commune located at the foot of the Pyrenees in the historic Comminges region, is surprisingly rich in traces of the past, which have left remarkable vestiges.
Prehistoric first of all: in the Gorges de la Save, the presence of animal bones and the discovery of the Venus de Lespugue, a small sculpture, attest to human presence in the Paleolithic period
A remarkable ecosystem.
Antiques next! Two Gallo-Roman villas were discovered and uncovered at the end of the 19th century by Abbé Jean-Marie Couret, a Roman history enthusiast, and Isidore Miro, who patiently became the owner of the land. He acquired them plot by plot. Thus, the Villa Lassalles and the Hillère took their place in the Montmaurin landscape.
David Bordes / Centre des monuments nationaux
The Villa Lassalles, a grand aristocratic residence
The Villa Lassalles is one of the largest known in France, today extending over one and a half hectares. The pars urbana today visible, was probably complemented by a pars rustica today no longer visible.
This aristocratic residence has a traditional layout, with two peristyles with four galleries surrounding two interior gardens. With almost 150 rooms and a hypocaust underfloor heating system in several areas, this immense villa offers luxury and comfort!
Its symmetrical floor plan reveals rooms designed for entertaining guests, as well as tricliniums (dining rooms) and cubiculae (bedrooms) reserved for the owners. From superb mosaics mainly with geometric motifs, have been found in these spaces.
In addition to its incredible dimensions, the Villa Lassalles boasts a preserved spa area where pools, columns and marble facings still offer an enchanting setting.
The site is thought to have been occupied in the early 2nd century, then, according to archaeologist Georges Fouet, abandoned in the 3rd century following a devastating flood. The villa was rebuilt in the 4th century, towards the end of the Constantinian period. Today's luxurious state of repair would seem to bear witness to this latter period.
Georges Fouet © Reproduction Benjamin Gavaudo / CMN
The surprising and mysterious villa de la Hillère
Located around 2km from the Villa Lassalles, the Villa de la Hillère is quite different in terms of location. The buildings discovered are built around a spring, a resurgence, towards which the reception room is oriented. The site has been occupied since Neolithic times justified by the presence of water. The spiritual dimension of this place and the therapeutic virtues attributed to this spring encouraged the emergence of a pilgrimage in the Middle Ages.
Nevertheless, its proximity to the Villa Lassalles, its composition and its parallel dating raise questions about its function, governance and importance.
Today, a chapel, Notre-Dame de la Hillère, and a cemetery partially cover the site, which is only partially known. The mosaics that have been found and restored are displayed and promoted in this chapel!
David Bordes / Centre des monuments nationaux
An incredible site for researchers
In the 1950s and 1960s, the villas attracted an archaeologist, Georges Fouet, who worked to discover and better understand these surprising sites. Numerous excavation campaigns led to the collection of archaeological material now on display in the museum. His work highlighted the importance of these villas and led to the classification of the Villa Lassalles as a Monument Historique in 1949. The State acquired the villa in 1953, and the Hillère estate in 1965. The Centre des Monuments Nationaux has been responsible for its conservation since 2010.
Ludovic Fortin-TIMEDIA / Centre des monuments nationaux