Almost all roads led to Aventicum in Roman Switzerland
20 June 2020
Aventicum (Avenches) was the capital of the Helvetian territory (Civitas Helvetiorum), which was annexed to the Roman Empire around 15 BC. At the time, it was one of Switzerland’s most important cities.
Avenches, today’s small medieval town, was the political and administrative centre of Roman Helvetia and had about 20,000 inhabitants at its peak. The old village lay further east, with a harbour area and canal that has dried up today.
The city proliferated after Emperor Vespasian made it a colony in 71 AD, naming it Colonia Pia Flavia Constans Emerita Helvetiorum Foederata.
Emperor Vespasian and his son Emperor Titus also lived in Aventicum. The city was first annexed to the province of Gallia Lugdunensis by Emperor Augustus after its integration into the Roman Empire, then to the province of Gallia Belgica) and finally, to the province of Germania superior in 85 AD.
The city narrowly escaped destruction in 69 AD after siding with Galba against Vittelius and his 21st legion stationed at Vindonissa (Windisch). Vittelius won over Galba but was defeated a few months later by Vespasian supporters and killed by them after taking Rome. This victory saved Avenches.
The ruling elites, the Celtic nobility, used their political power to protect their economic interests. They decided to promote Romanisation and follow Rome’s model.
Through an orthogonal street plan characteristic of Roman cities, with rectangular blocks (insulae) mainly intended for dwellings and workshops for crafts, Aventicum became the capital of a vast area covering much of the Swiss Plateau.
It could benefit from its privileged position in the Roman Empire’s road network and within the navigable network that connected it to the Rhine. The city was on the route from Rome, Martigny, to London!
Ancient documents and archaeological finds have shown the importance of Avenches in the establishment of communication networks by the Roman administration on the route that connected Besançon (Vesontio) to Augst (Augusta Raurica) via Pontarlier (Abiolica), the Jougne Pass, Yverdon (Eburoduno), Studen (Petinesca) and Solothurn (Salodurum).
Further north, via the Doubs route via Mandeure, a link was provided between the Rhône-Saône axis and the Rhine basin. Avenches was also connected to the transalpine route from the Great St Bernard to Lake Geneva via Moudon (Minodum), Oron (Viromagus), and Vevey (Vivisco). In addition to these main routes, other roads connected the city to Lake Geneva and Lake Constance (Bodensee).
The axis of the three great lakes of the Jura, Neuchâtel, Biel and Murten, and the Aare to the Rhine basin played an important role. Avenches had a port and canal on the southern shore of Lake Murten (Lac de Morat). The canal was 800 metres long and 7 metres wide, allowing two transport boats to cross each other. The port area was connected to the road network.
Limestone, marble, luxury goods and other materials were transported to construct prestigious villas, insulae, public buildings, baths, forums, theatres, amphitheatres, sanctuaries, and other monumental structures. The necropolises were on the northern edge of the city.
Aventicum was a cosmopolitan Roman provincial capital.
(Source : D. Castella, « Territoire et voies de communication », dans Avenches. Capitale des Helvètes, Association Pro Aventico, Avenches 2003).