Espace gallo-romain de ath

Espace gallo-romain is a small but remarkable archaeology museum in the Belgian town of Ath, housed on rue de Nazareth in a building with a neoclassical stone facade. The museum has occupied this site since 1997, telling visitors the story of everyday life in the Gallo-Roman period in what is now Wallonia.

Where the collection comes from

The core of the museum's holdings comes from archaeological excavations carried out in 1975 at Pommerœul, during the digging of the new Mons–Condé canal. Workers uncovered the remains of a vicus — a secondary settlement dating to the 2nd century AD, located exactly where a road linking Bavay and Blicquy crossed the river La Haine. Sitting at the junction of a land route and a waterway, the settlement likely functioned as a local hub for trade and transshipment of goods.

Two boats that survived the centuries

The museum's standout attraction is a pair of wooden boats recovered at Pommerœul: a barge and a dugout canoe carved from a single tree trunk. Both were built mainly from oak and have survived in good enough condition to be fully conserved, making them the only ancient boats preserved anywhere in Belgium. The barge has been recognized as a treasure of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, underlining its exceptional value to the region's heritage. Both vessels are now displayed in climate-controlled cases that protect the fragile, centuries-old wood from further deterioration.

A museum built for every age

Espace gallo-romain is designed as an intimate space that still welcomes visitors of all ages. The exhibition combines classic archaeological displays with new technologies and sensory elements, turning a visit into something closer to a journey back to daily life in a Gallo-Roman settlement nearly two thousand years ago. Visitors can follow how such a settlement functioned in practice — from the transport of goods by river and road, to craft production, to the layout of a small trading community.

Why it's worth a visit

Espace gallo-romain in Ath is a reminder that Rome's presence in what is now Belgium wasn't only about large towns and monumental architecture — modest trading settlements like Pommerœul, built around road and river networks, mattered just as much. The rarity of the surviving boats gives the museum a significance beyond its size: it's the only place in the country where visitors can see original ancient watercraft in person.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Espace gallo-romain located? The museum is in the centre of Ath, on rue de Nazareth, in a building with a neoclassical facade.

What can visitors see there? The highlights are two Gallo-Roman wooden boats found at Pommerœul — a barge and a dugout canoe — along with collections related to the 2nd-century vicus that stood at the crossing of the Bavay–Blicquy road and the river La Haine.

Where do the exhibits come from? From archaeological excavations conducted in 1975 at Pommerœul, during construction of the new Mons–Condé canal.

Who is the museum aimed at? The exhibition is designed for visitors of all ages, pairing traditional display cases with modern technology and interactive elements.