The Temple of Mars

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On this hill stands the largest Gallo-Roman sanctuary in Brittany.
Created ex-nihilo, this monument appears as a political instrument for the integration of local populations and marks the attachment of the coriosolite city to the Empire. Its construction, given the scale and cost, took place in two stages and over several decades between the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The whole building Romano-Celtic, facing east, is organized around a vast sacred courtyard, which covers 5000m2 (108m X 98m) and is surrounded by 3 raised porticoes. It is said to be Romano-Celtic because it adopts in its architecture a polygonal cella (the most sacred space of the sanctuary) of Celtic tradition, associated with the Greek system with three porticoes, all mixed with the frontality of the Etrusco-Italic constructions. The columns are in the Tuscan style, a very refined Roman architectural order.
One entered the sanctuary through the vestibules which made it possible to welcome, control and guide the pilgrims. The sacred area could hold about 5000 people. The processions and harangues of the emperor's representatives took place under the porticoes.
The octagonal cella (tower originally 22,50 m high) of which 4 sections of wall still remain, was the most sacred space of the sanctuary reserved for the sacerdos (priests) and the elites. The cella housed the statue of the tutelary deity, the god Mars Mullo. Pilgrims did not have access to this space.
To pray to the deity, they turned in the adjacent gallery and placed their offerings for the god in a small exedra.
The sanctuary was destroyed by fire, probably between 275 and 290 AD Voluntary fires perpetrated during looters by Saxon pirates going up the Rance, or peasant revolts against imperial power and social order. Many constructions, public or private buildings, walls or enclosures of the surroundings were built with the stones of these ruins.
A free access interpretation trail reveals the life of the sanctuary.

Thanks to the augmented reality application, "Temple of Mars 3D" visualize through your smartphone or tablet the sanctuary as it was more than 1 years ago! Audios, videos and games to experience heritage while having fun!
Free download on smartphones and tablets (Apple store and Play Store)