The Gallo-Roman sanctuary of Sanxay is an archaeological site corresponding to a vicus or Gallo-Roman settlement located in the Vonne river valley, next to the town of Sanxay (France). It is one of the best preserved Gallo-Roman monuments. Sanxay Amphitheater.
Discovered in 1881 and excavated for the first time by the Reverend Père de la Croix, the sanctuary of Sanxay dates from the 1st to 4th century AD. C. It was a center of pilgrimage and thermalism. It was dedicated to the gods Mercury and Apollo. Temple.
The site covers an area of 20 hectares and is divided between the two banks of the Vonne river. On the right bank rise the ruins of an amphitheater whose stands lean on the slope of a hill. It is estimated that it had capacity for about 6500 spectators. On the left bank are the remains of some hot springs with a surface of 110 x 60 m and walls of 3 to 4 m in height. They were built in the second century and remained in use throughout the III and IV centuries. To the west of the baths are the vestiges of a great temple of the second century. It has an octagonal base 9 m in diameter and is surrounded by an ambulatory (space around the sanctum sanctorum of a temple, through which the faithful can walk) in the form of a Greek cross. Hot springs
The remains of some shops have also been found. They were part of a residential and artisanal complex whose layout can be identified by aerial photography. This shows that Sanxay was not only a sacred place, but also an important rural nucleus that attracted the surrounding population. Hot springs
The place is open to the public and can be freely visited.
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