The Romanisation of Vaud

9 January 2021

During two centuries of Roman peace—the “Pax Romana”—and domination, the area of the Canton of Vaud was Romanised.

The Celtic population adopted the Roman way of life, the Latin language and customs. One of the most important contributions was urbanisation.

The Celtic settlements, known as oppida (singular: oppidum), developed into cities or new towns that were founded from scratch.

The Romans built and maintained an extensive road network. Vaud became the crossroads of two major roads, one connecting Geneva (Genava) and the Rhone valley with Windisch (Vindonissa) via Lausanne (Lousanna) and Avenches (Aventicum), and another connecting Italy and Northern Europe through the Great St. Bernard Pass and Martigny (Forum Claudii Vallensium) and Aosta (Augusta Praetoria Salassorum) on the other side of the valley.

Waterways were also vital, including the Rhône, lakeside ports, and the Avenches canal.

(Source: L. Hubler, Histoire de Vaud, Lausanne 1991).