In front of us lies a testament to Lyon’s long and complex past. This is the Site Archéologique de Saint-Just Les Minimes. It is a window into the city’s Gallo-Roman origins and its subsequent Christian evolution. Imagine this area centuries ago.
The Site Archéologique de Saint-Just Les Minimes reveals layers of history. Archaeological digs uncovered a vast Gallo-Roman complex. This included a necropolis and three churches. These excavations occurred before the demolition of the old Minimes college. The digs happened prior to constructing a housing complex between 1971 and 1980. Jean-François Reynaud led the project. He was a professor of art history at the University of Lyon II-Lumière.
The name “Macchabées” links to the Jewish martyrs of the 2nd century BC. A basilica dedicated to these martyrs once stood beside Saint Just’s mausoleum. The Rue des Macchabées dates back to 1854.
The Gallo-Roman complex featured pools and an underfloor heating system. This system was called a hypocaust. Exedras or semi-circular benches also existed here. These were common in public spaces. Amphorae were found within a large transverse wall. These were dated to the late 1st century.
South of the site, the necropolis contained diverse burials. These included stone sarcophagi and amphorae containing children’s remains. Lead sarcophagi and a funerary urn were also found. This necropolis dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries. Pottery shards were found above the necropolis. These shards date to the early 11th century.
A small apse mausoleum was discovered near the churches’ remains. This may have housed the body of Justus. Three other smaller, quadrangular mausoleums were also found. Justus was an archbishop of Lyon. He was also a monk in Egypt. He and his companion Viateur were buried in the Saint-Irénée-Saint-Just necropolis. Later, they were moved to the basilica, which then became Saint-Just.
Three churches were discovered on this site. The first church was built around the year 400. It was located near the mausoleum. Only the apse and a fragment of wall remain. Sidoine Apollinaire mentioned the cryptoporticus in 469. He attended a ceremony honoring Saint-Just. He was a Gallo-Roman writer and poet.
A second church was rebuilt in the 5th century. This structure had three naves, porticoes, a transept, and a polygonal apse. In the 9th century, a chapter of canons established themselves near the church. They built a fortified cloister.
The last church was constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. A mural on a nearby building shows the basilica as it appeared in 1550. It was a large structure. It had two bell towers and a prominent transept.
The foundations reveal that the final church design was more modest. Still, it was Lyon’s most important church after the Saint-Jean cathedral. In 1562, the Baron des Adrets destroyed the cloister. Protestants occupied the area. They destroyed the Romanesque church that September. This led to the abandonment of a new building project on the site. The Saint-Just Church was then built on Rue des Farges. It was located within the city walls for safety. Its construction lasted from 1591 to 1704.
Today, the vestiges are preserved in situ. Blocks mark the location of the first two churches. The choir remains of the Romanesque church are still visible. The Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine displays the excavation plans. The city decided to purchase the land after initial excavations. This happened because of a proposed real estate project. A park was created. Two buildings were already built, preventing full exploration.
This Site Archéologique de Saint-Just Les Minimes offers a unique glimpse into Lyon’s past. The Gallo-Roman necropolis became a sanctuary for the dead. This evolved into the fortified town of St-Just. Elements on the ground mark the outlines of the lost buildings. A painted wall shows the town and church in 1550.