- Ambrussum
Ambrussum (modern name "Pont-Ambruis") is a
Gallo-Roman archaeological site inVilletelle ,Hérault "département", in southernFrance .It is close to the modern town
Lunel , betweenNîmes andMontpellier . Ambrussum is notable for its bridge (French: "Pont Ambroix "), painted byGustave Courbet , and for its "oppidum " (fortified village, often at a higher elevation).The site has a lower settlement (currently in the course of excavation) which was apparently abandoned due to flooding. The higher settlement was built later and within a surrounding wall including 21 towers.
The bridge was still usable in the
Middle Ages , with all 11 arches, but when painted by Courbet in 1857 only two arches were left, and one of those was lost in flooding of theVidourle River in 1933. A single arch remains.The
Roman road , theVia Domitia , visible with traces of Roman chariot tracks forming "railway tracks", leads up a hill, where ruins of habitations can be seen.External links
* [http://www.ot-paysdelunel.com/pages/accueil_rubrique.php?lang=fr&cat_id=4&sub_id=84&page=&PHPSESSID=5dfc5281cfe299b8ee6781e6dc05c27b Website about Ambrussum] fr icon
* [http://www.guidesdumidi.com/diaporama/view_album.php?set_albumName=album07 Pictures of Ambrussum]
* [http://www.decouvrir-l-herault.com/lunel-ambrussum.htm Webpage about Ambrussum] fr icon
* [http://www.poster-und-kunstdrucke.de/images/product-pics/artist/courbet/courbet_pont_dambrussum.jpgPainting by Gustave Courbet]
* [http://www.midiphotobank.com/20070527.html A short Tour of Ambrussum]
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