“Imagine stepping back in time to Lugdunum. That was Lyon’s name during the Gallo-Roman era. We’re standing amidst the remnants of the Thermes Gallo-romains. These ancient baths were once a vital part of daily life. Lugdunum thrived as a crucial Roman center. It even birthed emperors like Claudius and Caracalla. Founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus, the city quickly became the capital of Roman Gaul.
The Lyon Roman Baths you see around us date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. By 192 AD, Lugdunum’s population had boomed. It swelled to somewhere between 50,000 and 200,000 residents. This infrastructure included four aqueducts. They supplied water to fountains, grand homes, and these very public baths.
Roman bathing wasn’t just about hygiene. It was a daily ritual enjoyed across social classes. The bathing process itself was elaborate. It involved multiple rooms. There was a changing area. Then warm and hot rooms all featured pools. A sudatorium or sauna offered intense heat. Finally, a cold room beckoned with a swimming pool.
These Thermes Gallo-romains weren’t discovered until the 1970s. After their discovery they were partially restored. Modern life has sprung up around these baths. This somewhat conceals them. They’re nestled amongst housing blocks now.
Only the south end of the Roman structure is visible today. Much of it lies beneath the Jean Moulin middle school. What remains for us to see is the rounded apse. It formed part of the warmer rooms. We can also see a section of the palaestra. That’s the courtyard where people exercised before bathing.
The original building stretched roughly 75 meters north-south. It was also about 50 meters wide. Though excavations only revealed parts of it. The south facade extends 20 to 30 meters. The support wall runs for 55 meters. These Thermes Gallo-romains were built under the reigns of emperors Claudius or Nero. They underwent changes over two centuries. A partial reconstruction occurred in the 2nd century. Interestingly, many bricks bear the mark CCCAL. This signifies Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum. This suggests the municipality built these baths. Usually, wealthy individuals or emperors funded such projects.
Other thermal baths existed in Lugdunum. We know this from inscriptions. There were the Thermes of Ullatius and the Thermes of Apollo. It’s possible these Thermes of Apollo are actually the ones on Rue des Farges. Three altars dedicated to Apollo were unearthed in Fourvière and Saint-Just.
Imagine the vibrant social scene that once unfolded here. Citizens would gather to relax. They conducted business and engaged in lively discussions. The Thermes Gallo-romains weren’t merely a place to cleanse the body. They were a hub of Roman life in Lugdunum. As you explore these ruins, remember the countless Romans. They walked this very ground centuries ago.”