One of the most complete Hellenistic and Roman town sites in France, Glanum was founded by a Ligurian people around the 6th century BC and later developed into a prosperous Roman city. The excavated remains include temples, a forum, thermal baths, and private houses — all laid out in a clearly legible grid just outside the modern town. Allow a couple of hours; the audio guide adds considerably to the visit.
Glanum
Excavated Hellenistic and Roman town with temples, forum, and thermal baths
A story
Just outside the site entrance stand the Antiques — a triumphal arch and a mausoleum tower — among the best-preserved Roman monuments in France. The mausoleum, raised around 30 BC, is thought to commemorate two grandsons of Augustus. Both monuments survived intact because they stood alone in open countryside for centuries, while the city they once marked was buried and forgotten.