When we think of the Romans, images of Mediterranean countries immediately spring to mind. But the Romans in Lorraine are often ignored.
What traces did the Romans leave in today’s Lorraine?
The cultivation of vines? Certainly.
The red tiles of the villages of Lorraine which give them a ‘Provençal touch’? Definitely!

But there’s more to discover, especially for history and archaeology buffs, those with a passion for the Ancient Times, when Celts and Romans lived side by side in what is now Lorraine.
This article summarises a short journey that will take us to three sites in Roman Lorraine, from the Vôge to the northern Vosges.
Get ready to step back in time 2,000 years!
The Romans in Lorraine
Before the arrival of the Romans, the territory of present-day Lorraine was mainly occupied by two tribes from Gaul-Belgium: the Mediomatrici and the Leuci.
The Mediomatrici in Lorraine
The Mediomatrici (Médiomatriques in French), whose capital was Divodurum (now Metz), occupied the Lower Moselle from the Argonne, which separated them from the Remi to the Rhine; then, under the pressure of the Triboci, their territory extended as far as the northern Vosges.
The Leuci in Lorraine
The Leuci (Leuques in French), whose capital was Tullum (now Toul), occupied the Upper Moselle, from the Ballon d’Alsace and the Donon to the forests of the Senones.
The other Celtic tribes in Lorraine
To the north of what is now Lorraine, there were also the Treveri (after whom Trier is named), while to the extreme southwest lay the territory of the Lingones and to the extreme southeast that of the Senones.
Here come the Romans in Lorraine
The Romans arrived in Lorraine in 52 BC.
The Gallic peoples of the region remained relatively uninvolved in the Gallic War; only the Mediomatrici took part in the battle of Bibracte and then sent 6,000 men to Alesia.
The Leuci, who never took up arms against Julius Caesar, were considered “free” and, as such, exempt from taxation.
After the Roman invasion, the region enjoyed a period of lasting peace, the famous “Pax Romana”.

Lorraine included in Gallia Belgica
Emperor Augustus incorporated the region into the province of Gallia Belgica (Belgian Gaul), which comprised several civitas, generally corresponding to the former territories of the conquered peoples.
Today’s Lorraine was divided between three civitas:
- Augusta Trevorum (Trier),
- Tullum Leucorum (Toul),
- and Divodurum (Metz).

The Gallo-Roman Cities in Lorraine
During the Roman presence in what is now Lorraine, some cities were already populated by Gallo-Romans, such as :
- Divodorum Mettensis (Metz),
- Andésina (Grand),
- Donna Briga (Deneuvre),
- Longus Vicus (Longwy),
- Tullum (Toul),
- Verdunum (Verdun).
Some towns have since been completely erased from the maps, including Scarpone, located near Dieulouard between Metz and Nancy. The memory of this Gallo-Roman city is preserved in today’s toponymy, giving its name to the Porte Serpenoise in Metz (the gateway that led to Scarpone), and there is a “Boulevard de Scarpone” in Nancy.

Of the major towns in Lorraine, two never had a Roman presence, as they emerged much later, in the 11th century:
- Épinal, the present-day prefecture of the Vosges département, did not appear until around 1050 when the Bishop of Metz built a castle to protect his lands.
- Nancy was established around 1050 on a marsh near the river Meurthe, on the initiative of Gérard, the first Duke of Lorraine, enabling him to hunt more easily in the immense Haye forest nearby.
The Development of Roman Infrastructure in Lorraine
The Romans contributed to the region’s development by constructing roads, aqueducts and buildings. Some of today’s roads still run along the same lines as those created by the Romans, thanks in particular to Agrippa, friend and son-in-law of Augustus, who laid out the road network.
- The main route, linking Lyon to Trier via Toul and Dieulouard (Scarpone), facilitated communication between the Rhine and Mediterranean regions.
- Crossing the first at Metz, a second route linked Verdun to Strasbourg via Marsal, Sarrebourg and Saverne. Tullum, the city of the Leucs, was crossed by a road linking Reims to Bar-le-Duc and Toul, then reaching the Vosges.
Numerous remains of this Roman presence in Lorraine remain today, including the Grand Amphitheatre, the Gorze to Metz Aqueduct and the Bliesbruck Thermal Baths. I invite you to discover them one by one!
3 Must-see Sites of the Romans in Lorraine
Let’s take a look at the three key Roman sites in Lorraine.
Grand
Let’s delve into an incredibly fascinating story, that of a small village in Lorraine, which, at first glance, might seem quite ordinary.
But don’t be fooled by appearances because Grand has all the makings of a big town!
![Grand Vosges © René Houdry - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons](https://alsacelorraineguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Grand-Vosges-©-Rene-Houdry-licence-CC-BY-SA-4.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg)
This village of 350 souls hides an epic past beneath its roots. 2,000 years ago, this was a great Roman city, vibrant with activity and splendour.
Where today we mainly hear birdsong and rustling leaves, there was once a huge amphitheatre, temples and bustling public squares.
This village proves that appearances can be deceiving and that great stories can be hidden in small places.
Andesina: A Roman City in Today’s Lorraine
Andesina (the name of Grand in Roman Lorraine) was a city of remarkable importance in the days of the Roman Empire. This teeming city of 20,000 souls was home to :
- An impressive arena with a capacity of 17,000 spectators.
- A basilica decorated with a brightly coloured mosaic, one of the largest in Western Europe.
- And most probably a temple dedicated to Apollo, located near a sacred spring.
The Roman Amphitheatre of Grand
The Grand Amphitheatre, the eighth largest in the Roman world, is an exceptional monument. Built at the end of the 1st century, it could hold nearly 17,000 people, underlining the city’s importance at that time. Its elliptical design and dual use, as both a theatre and an amphitheatre, illustrate Roman ingenuity.
The arena, placed directly on the natural ground, was surrounded by a podium and flanked by sanctuaries dedicated to various deities. Access was via corridors leading to service rooms, reminiscent of modern backstage areas.
The Roman Mosaic of Grand
The Grand Mosaic is a remarkable piece of ancient heritage. This work of art, dating back to the era of Emperor Caracalla, is exceptional for several reasons. Not only does it cover an impressive area of 232 square metres, making it the largest mosaic discovered in the ancient Lorraine region, but it also offers a fascinating glimpse into the aesthetics and artistic motifs of the time.
![Romans in Lorraine - The Grand Mosaic © Pethrus - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons](https://alsacelorraineguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Grand-mosaique-LR-©-Pethrus-licence-CC-BY-SA-4.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons-1024x768.jpg)
Although only partially preserved, the mosaic’s central motif has sparked interest among historians and art enthusiasts. It is suggested that this motif, or emblema, could depict a scene from the work “Phasma” by the Greek playwright Menander. This detail invites imagination and reflection on the cultural and artistic connections that spanned the ancient world.
The discovery of this mosaic in 1883 by Félix Voulot, then curator at the Vosges Départemental Museum in Épinal, was a significant moment for the region’s heritage. Unearthed in May of that same year, this treasure has since captivated the attention of many visitors and researchers eager to delve into the world of the Romans in Lorraine.
Imperial Visits in Grand
This wealth of history and culture even attracted the attention of the Roman emperors.
According to some sources, figures such as the emperor Caracalla and the future emperor Constantine visited Grand, enriching its history. Caracalla commissioned renovation work, while Constantine is said to have had a prophetic vision of Apollo, foreshadowing his future victories.
Over time, Grand gradually faded from the collective memory, mainly due to its remoteness from the main trade routes.
Today, although its population has dwindled considerably, the archaeological remains bear witness to its glorious past and continue attracting researchers’ and historians’ interest.
To find out more, visit the official Grand Amphitheatre website.
Aqueduct from Gorze to Metz
The aqueduct from Gorze to Metz is an engineering marvel from the Roman era that bears witness to the genius and ambition of its builders.
The 22-kilometre-long water transport system (even though the straight-line distance between the point of collection and Metz is only around 15 kilometres) was a remarkable feat of engineering for its time.
![Romans in Lorraine - Aqueduct Ars-sur-Moselle © PaultT (Gunther Tschuch) - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons](https://alsacelorraineguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Aqueduct-Ars-sur-Moselle-©-PaultT-Gunther-Tschuch-licence-CC-BY-SA-4.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg)
The aqueduct’s route was not only a question of distance but also a topographical challenge, solved with an ingenuity that commands admiration.
The aqueduct began with an underground section from the Bouillons spring near Gorze through the landscape to an outlet basin. From here, the water crossed the Moselle valley over an impressive arched bridge before flowing into a receiving basin.

Despite the centuries, the remains of this structure, in particular the bridge-aqueduct that spanned the Moselle, remain an imposing sight, bearing witness to the grandeur of the original work.
Why the aqueduct bridge?
The construction of this aqueduct, which began in the early 2nd century, met a crucial need for the city of Metz, then known as Divodurum. As the capital of the Mediomatrici, Metz was located at a strategic crossroads, serving routes from Lyon to Trier and Reims to Strasbourg. At the time, the city, with a population of around 20,000, needed a constant supply of water to meet the needs of its fountains, thermal baths and public latrines (lavatories) and to support the activities of its craftsmen.

The three sections of the aqueduct
The aqueduct’s route was divided into three distinct segments: a long underground conduit leading to an aqueduct bridge, itself flanked by two basins, a monumental upstream and a more modest downstream, before continuing underground towards the south of Metz. This final section probably led to a water tower, which distributed water throughout the urban network, although the precise details of this distribution remain a mystery.
An Amazing technical sophistication
What is striking about studying the aqueduct from Gorze to Metz is the sheer size of the structure and the technical sophistication it displays.
Roman engineers mastered the rugged terrain to transport water over more than 20 kilometres, overcoming natural obstacles with daring constructions such as the aqueduct bridge over the Moselle between Ars-sur-Moselle and Jouy-aux-Arches.

The very existence of this aqueduct underlines the exceptional skills of Roman engineers and technicians, as well as the ability of the urban elite to finance, maintain and manage such infrastructure for the well-being and enjoyment of the population.
Today, the remains of the aqueduct from Gorze to Metz offer valuable insight into the power and permanence of the Roman Empire in the region. Although only a fraction of the original work survives, the remaining elements, such as the bridge arches and basins, invite reflection on the scale of Roman achievements and their lasting legacy in our modern landscapes.
Bliesbruck Thermal Baths
Located in Bliesbruck, on the border with Germany, the Roman thermal baths of Bliesbruck are an exceptional testimony to engineering and social life in Roman times, from the 1st to the 3rd century AD.
This thermal complex, which reached its apogee between the end of the 1st and the middle of the 3rd centuries, illustrates the importance of this town, which was mainly used for crafts and trade in ancient times.

The Bliesbruck site, named after the nearby River Blies, lies along an ancient Roman road, underlining its strategic role in the communication and trade networks of the period.
The thermal baths, located just a short distance from the river, were an integral part of daily life, providing a place to relax, socialise, and treat the region’s inhabitants and travellers passing through.

A Fascinating Historical Background
The historical background of Bliesbruck is fascinating.
The site originally belonged to the Celtic Mediomatrici before becoming part of Belgian Gaul under the Roman Empire.
The town, whose ancient name is unknown to us, developed around the Claudian period (40-50 AD) in connection with the Roman road that linked Lugdunum (Lyon) to Augusta Treverorum (Trier) via Divodurum (Metz). The town’s location on a major thoroughfare helped it flourish, particularly through developing craft and commercial districts.

The 2nd and 3rd centuries marked Bliesbruck’s golden age, with the construction of monumental buildings such as the thermal baths, a basilica and a fountain, a sign of the town’s prosperity thanks to trade and crafts. At the time, the town covered an area of around thirty hectares, oriented north-south, reflecting its regional importance.
However, the end of the 3rd century was marked by periods of unrest, with Germanic invasions and fires ravaging the town. Despite an attempt to restore the thermal baths and the eastern quarter, the city gradually lost its urban character, beginning a long decline until the fourth century.

Bliesbruck-Reinheim European Archaeological Park
Archaeological excavations carried out from the 1970s onwards have enabled this exceptional site to be rediscovered.
The Moselle département, aware of the historical value of Bliesbruck, acquired part of the site in 1982 to undertake programmed excavations.
The discoveries made between 1987 and 1993 have enriched our understanding of daily life in Roman times and are now showcased in the Bliesbruck-Reinheim European Archaeological Park.

This archaeological park, the result of a cross-border project launched in 1989, extends over both sides of the Franco-German border. It offers a fascinating insight into the history of the region through the ages, displaying remains from the Mesolithic period to late Antiquity, including the famous princely tomb of Reinheim, a Gallo-Roman vicus and a large Roman villa.

This site is a true testament to the continuous human occupation of the Blies Valley over more than six thousand years, offering visitors a unique immersion in European history.

To find out more, visit the official website.
Learn more about the Romans in Lorraine
By wandering through the remnants of Grand, marvelling at the exceptional engineering of the Gorze-Metz aqueduct, and exploring the baths and ruins of Bliesbruck-Reinheim, we have embarked on a true journey through time, right into the heart of Roman Lorraine.

Each of these sites offers a unique window into the past, revealing the extent and sophistication of Roman presence in this strategic region of what was once Gaul.
Grand, with its impressive amphitheatre and elaborate mosaic, bears witness to the cultural and social life of the Romans.
The Gorze-Metz aqueduct, on the other hand, is a stunning reminder of Roman technological advancement and ingenuity in engineering.
Lastly, Bliesbruck-Reinheim immerses us in the daily life of the Romans, between commerce, crafts, and moments of relaxation in the baths.
Lorraine, with its remarkable archaeological sites, reminds us that history is not static in books or museums. It is all around us, inscribed in the landscape, in the stones of ancient buildings, and in the waterways that have seen generations pass by.
The Roman presence in Lorraine is a fascinating chapter of our common heritage, a legacy that continues to inspire and amaze those who take the time to explore it.