Alesia, Galo-Roman Ruins,and Chateauneuf-en-Auxois, France

We love visiting the Abbaye de la Bussisere-sur-Ouche.  Paul Day's sculptures enhance the gardens.

Cruising along the Burgundy Canal is a visual delight

 We walk up to Chateauneuf-en-Auxois whenever the opportunity presents itself.

 Red Door

Old Stone Wall

Wheel-barrel with Pots and Red Flowers

We always visit what we have named "Lee's Lookout" in memory of a dear friend who once visited Chateauneuf-en-Auxois with us.

Our Beautiful Rabelo

Normally this is Tom's reaction when I'm at the helm.  Steve was convinced he had the situation under control. After all he was a captain in the navy.

 Alesia Park Museum gives us an interesting perspective and education on a small part of France's history.  This Museum marks the archeological site that commemorates the history of the battle between Julius Caesar and the Gauls in 52 B.C.  There no longer exists any traces of the battle, but the museum recreated the battlements and earthworks and provides an interpretation of what occurred.

The Interpretation Center offers an interactive presentation of the siege of Alésia along with ancient objects, reproductions, dioramas, films, models, multimedia terminals and reconstructions of war instruments.  This museum provides an understanding of the history of the site.  It's well worth listening to the audioguide.  I also recommend watching the video.

This interpretative center is built with a wood exterior, such as the Roman fortifications might have been built at the time of the siege.

Entry into the museum

Statues give you an idea of what the battle was like.

Julius Caesar 

An outdoor example of what the battlefields were like.  Sharp sticks were placed in the ground, ditches were dug, and walls with watchtowers were erected.  If you time your visit right you can see a reenactment of the battle.

The back of the Alesia MuseoParc

 Nearby the battle site are the remains of the Gallo-Roman Town Alise-Sainte-Reine.  The ampitheatre was large enough to hold 5000 people.  At one time it was believed the population numbered in the thousands.  Long after Vercingetorix was defeated, the Gallo-Roman town prospered primarily due to the bronze workers who settled there.

Gallo-Roman ruins.  This was the Civil Basilica:  The administrative building, the municipal counsel which served as the courthouse, and meeting space.

 This building had three floors and a crypt.   While the courtyard was surrounded by a portico with two floors.  The size of the building reflects the prestige of the metalworkers who gathered here.

 Napoleon III commissioned sculptor Aime Millet to produce a huge statue of Vercingetorix to commemorate the completion and success of the excavations at Alesia.  Vertingetorix was a king and chieftain of the Arverni tribe.  He united the Gauls in a revolt against Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars.

This monument of Vercingetorix erected in 1865 is approximately 21 feet tall and dominates the site of the last battle.  He was defeated by Caesar.