Site Gallo-romain de Sanxay

Built between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, Sanxay was not a typical residential town, but a large thermal sanctuary (a "vicus") dedicated to rest, healing, and religious celebrations. Spanning nearly 25 hectares, this monumental complex impresses with the preservation of its three main features: an ancient theater built into the hillside that could accommodate over 6,500 spectators, a vast and richly appointed bath complex, and a temple (fanum) with an unusual octagonal shape. The site testifies to Roman ingenuity in land management and the art of wellness in harmony with nature. Wandering among the ruins reveals the past grandeur of this pilgrimage site where those seeking treatment and the faithful mingled. The structures of the baths, with their pools and heating systems, are particularly well-defined, offering a direct understanding of ancient social life. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1882 thanks to the excavations of Father de la Croix, Sanxay remains today a haven of peace where the thousand-year-old stones still seem to resonate with the cheers of the theatre and the murmur of the water.