Ensemble des vestiges gallo-romains du Centre hospitalier de Lisieux

The Gallo-Roman remains at the Lisieux hospital form a small archaeological garden in Lisieux, Normandy, right next to the Robert-Bisson hospital. Beneath this patch of lawn lies a Roman residential district almost two thousand years old.

What lies beneath this garden?

Excavations carried out between 1978 and 1985 under archaeologist Claude Lemaître uncovered two main structures: a Roman bath complex (thermae) and a private residence. Studying the layers of soil allowed researchers to trace the history of this neighborhood from the 1st to the 3rd century AD, when Roman Lisieux — known as Noviomagus Lexoviorum — was a significant settlement in Roman Gaul.

The most remarkable find was the painted wall decoration. Archaeologists sifted through roughly ten tons of rubble and recovered nearly 25 panels of painted plaster. The resulting decorative scheme is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Roman wall painting in 2nd-century Gaul — as of the mid-1990s, fewer than six ensembles of comparable quality were known across the whole of Gaul. One fresco stands out in particular: a fish motif set against a blue background, painted in a style considered unique, with no comparable example found elsewhere in Gaul.

What does it look like today?

The site is now laid out as a public garden. The walls of the former residence have been consolidated, while the layout of the bath complex — its warm rooms, cold rooms, and pools — is marked out on the ground with low hedges. Walking through the garden, visitors can follow the plan of the Roman complex without needing to enter an enclosed museum: the entire layout is legible above ground.

How do you get there?

The garden sits in the center of Lisieux, on hospital grounds within easy walking distance of the train station and the town's main landmarks, such as Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the old town. It makes a worthwhile stop on a short walk through Lisieux, especially for visitors interested in Normandy's history before its medieval pilgrimage era.

What will you see on site?

Visitors will find the outlines of foundations, remnants of the bath complex and residential walls, and information panels explaining the function of each room. The original frescoes themselves, due to their fragility, are now kept and displayed in museum collections — but the scale and plan of the Roman buildings remain clearly readable at the excavation site.

When should you visit?

As an open public space, the garden can be visited year-round, at any time of day. Spring and summer are the most pleasant seasons to walk through it, when the plantings that trace the outlines of the former rooms are in full growth, making the layout of the baths easier to read.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the garden free? Yes, it is a publicly accessible city garden with free entry at any time of day.

How long does a visit take? Walking through the garden and reading the information panels usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Can you see the frescoes on site? The original wall paintings are held in museum collections due to their fragile condition — the garden itself shows the foundations and room layouts.

Who is this site good for? It appeals to visitors interested in archaeology and the history of Roman Gaul, and pairs well with a visit to medieval and 19th-century Lisieux.