What did the Romans do for Poitou-Charentes?
The Romans came this way during the conquest of Gaul (i.e. France) from the middle of the first century BC and as ever they brought with them straight roads, villas, temples, theatres – and baths. One of the best examples of Roman remains in the region is at Chassenon, or Cassinomagus as it was known to the Romans. Here you can find baths, a theatre and the remains of a temple. At Saintes are the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre and an impressive arch built in 19AD. Another good place to get an idea of life in Roman times is the Musée de Rauranum at Rom in the Deux-Sèvres. This area was part of the Roman province of Aquitania but later as the Western Roman Empire weakened and eventually died it came under Visigoth rule. The Visigoths were in turn defeated by the Franks at the start of the 6th century AD in a decisive battle near Poitiers – by no means the last important military encounter that would occur near this historic town. The epic Battle of Vouillé – which is on an old Roman road
