Glanum visitor guide

Visit Glanum, France

Glanum is a historic site near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, situated in the Alpilles of the Bouches-du-Rhone department, in the west of Provence.

Discover Glanum

France This Way review: Glanum is an interesting site, with excavated ruins showing a great deal of the structures of this Roman era village, and it is in a very lovely setting. It is nothing like Pompeii or Ostia Antica - few of the ruins here are more than one metre high - but as a Roman site in France it is exceptional

History of Glanum

This remarkable site has been occupied since around 1000 BC, and the Salyens, a tribe of Ligurians (Liguria is today part of north-west Italy), developed the site as a fortified village around 300 BC. Because of its strategic position on the trade routes between Italy and Spain, the town developed rapidly and was further fortified over the following centuries.

It was also at this time that a shrine was built here to the god Glanis, from who the town gets its name.

The Salyens disputed with their neighbours at Marseille who asked for assistance from the Romans. Around 125 BC the Salyens were conquered by the Romans and fell under the control of Marseille.

Despite suffering a great deal of damage during an attack by the Salyens who tried to reclaim the town in 90 BC, Glanum flourished during this period and in 49 BC became a part of the expanding Roman empire under Julius Caesar.

The village town continued to be an important settlement until it was conquered by the Alamanni tribe from northern Europe in 260 BC. As a result of this invasion, the inhabitants were driven out and created a new settlement a few kilometres away that is now the town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

During the following centuries a great deal of the stone from the site was used as building materials for the construction of this new town.

Although various excavations had already taken place on the site in a hunt for treasures, the formal excavations started in the early 20th century, and further excavations have taken place at various times, so some of the more important of the historical buildings have now been uncovered as well as the ruins of a good number of more simple dwellings.

Your visit to Glanum

The two substantial monuments that you see as you walk between the car park and the entrance to the village of Glanum are a triumphal arch and a mausoleum to the Julii family. These two monuments, together known as "Les Antiques", were built outside the original fortified village in around 10 BC under the Emperor Augustus and are still in very good condition.

Take some time to look at the carvings on the mausoleum as you pass - it is remarkable that the frieze around the mausoleum has survived in such good condition, with each side showing an event that was important to the Romans, such as the Battle of Troy. Above the frieze you can see a temple of round columns.

After the ticket office, you start your visit at the lower end of the site at Glanum. This was historically the sacred centre of the site, around the spring, which is still visible today.

You then pass through the area that was the town centre, where the forum and government buildings were situated, and finally reach the upper part of the town, which was the residential area.

As you pass through Glanum you can see the locations of many of the important buildings. Among the most important are the Bouleuterion, where the nobles held heated discussions, the restored columns of the Roman temple, and the columns that show the location of an important villa, called the House of the Antae.

After reaching the end of the town you can follow a path around to the right onto the hillside from where you have nice views across the whole of the site.

You will find a tourist shop and a cafe in the modern visitor area, and a picnic area outside so you can extend your visit if you like. You can also buy bottles of water, which is indispensableon a hot day - the whole site is very exposed to the sunshine!

An admission charge is payable to enter the site, and parking is also paid at around five euros per hour, so a visit by a family and including a rest in the cafe can be rather expensive, and access for visitors of reduced mobility is quite restricted, even impossible, so check before travelling a long way if you are in this situation.

Attractions nearby

There is a great deal to see in this lovely part of France. Of course you will want to visit Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (modern Glanum) when you are here and In the Hotel de Sade inthe town you can see many of the artefacts uncovered during the excavation of the site at Glanum.

The village of Les Baux-de-Provence is one of the most beautiful villages in France, and also has a castle and an impressive spectacle called the Carrières de Lumières to visit, so should be an unmissable destination as you explore the region.

See more Ancient Monuments in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Bouches-du-Rhone guide and the Provence guide.

To make travel arrangements to visit Glanum see HERE

Find Saint-Rémy-de-Provence Hotels and Holiday Rentals

Reserve excursions near Glanum

Photos of Glanum

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Map of Glanum and places nearby

Places to visit near Glanum

Saint-Remy-de-Provence

The historic monuments here are a testament to St-Remy-de-Provence's claim to be one of the oldest towns in France, and the time that Van Gogh spent here is also celebrated

Saint-Remy-de-Provence guide

Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence

The Carrieres de Lumieres is a sound and light spectacle based around famous artists works, in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence

Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence guide

Château des Baux-de-Provence

The Château des Baux-de-Provence is a remarkable ruined castle above the village of Les Baux-de-Provence, with amazing views across the Alpilles

Château des Baux-de-Provence guide

Baux-de-Provence

The village of Baux-de-Provence is small but exceptionally picturesque, and has beautiful views across the Provencal countryside. Unmissable!

Baux-de-Provence guide

Maussane-les-Alpilles

Maussane-les-Alpilles is a small and traditional Provençal town

Maussane-les-Alpilles guide

Fontvieille

This town near Arles has a small historic centre to explore when you are passing

Fontvieille guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Bouches-du-Rhone

The French version of this page is at Glanum (Francais)