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Archeoplus

Bas-Vully (FR)

Situated between the Neuchatel Lake and the Murten Lake, Mont Vully is nowadays an appreciated place for walking because of the view of the area. The site is also known to be a Celtic oppidum (fortified town).

Canton: Fribourg

Swiss topographic coordinates: 574'995, 200'873

Google Earth file: Bas-Vully-en.kmz

Documentation

Bibliography

Kaenel Gilbert, Curdy Philippe, L'oppidum du Mont Vully, Sugier/Vully, Guides archéologiques de la Suisse 19, 1988
Kaenel Gilbert, Curdy Philippe, Carrard Frédéric, L'oppidum du Mont Vully, un bilan des recherches 1978-2003, Fribourg, Academic Press Fribourg, 2004
100 % Archéologie suisse (see Bibliography), p. 35

Others visible sites in the area

Avenches (VD): Roman city (amphitheatre, theatre, temples, baths, city wall, museum)
Gletterens (FR): Lakeside village
Hauterive (NE): Archaeological museum and square
Vallon (FR): Roman villa (museum, mosaics), medieval church

The Celtic oppidum

The excavations made between 1978 and 1987 on Mont Vully enabled to recover the remains of a first rampart along the west limit of the plateau called Plan Chatel. According to several clues, the first building step is dated of the final Bronze age (1000-800 BC). Between the second and the first centuries BC, this rampart is rebuilt.

About 120 BC, a second rampart is built to the west of the first one. This second rampart goes across the whole plateau of Mont Vully and protects a surface of 50 hectars. The excavations enabled to recover two gates and at least three towers. About 100 BC, the rampart is repaired, and about 80/70 BC, it is partially destroyed by a probably accidental fire. After that, the site seamed to be abandoned.

Nowadays, the remains of the first rampart are not visible, but it is possible to see the change of incline at its site. The remains of the second rampart are not visible but a section has been rebuilt at the place of the north gate.

Swiss topographic coordinates: