Lillebonne

Sister cities

• Wellington
• Torres Vedras
• Immenstadt im Allgäu

History

Before the Roman conquest of Gaul, the site was the capital of the Caletes tribe who gave their name to the Pays de Caux. It was destroyed by Julius Caesar in his Gallic Wars and the city of Juliobona built there by Augustus in the 1st c. AD. It become an important centre whence Roman roads branched out in all directions. It was an administrative, military and commercial city located close to the Seine. This made it a great transportation route between Britannia (modern-day Britain) and the remainder of the Roman Empire. It was also a crossroads of communication for Roman roads to Harfleur, Étretat, Dieppe, Évreux and Rouen. The city was completely destroyed in the middle of the 2nd century. The remains of Roman baths and of a theatre capable of holding 3,000 persons have been brought to light. Many Roman relics, notably a bronze statue of Apollo (displayed in the Louvre) have been found. The important Lillebonne mosaic, well preserved and depicting a deer hunt, comes from a suburban villa and is on display at the Rouen Museum. It was made by T. SEN FILIX from Pozzuoli, Italy and AMOR, his local apprentice. It was again ruined in the barbarian invasions of 273 after which the theatre was made into a fortress: the exits were blocked, wells were dug, and baths put up in the arena. In the Middle Ages the town walls were constructed out of materials from the Roman theatre. The town recovered some of its importance under William the Conqueror. Lillebonne is the birthplace of the writer Annie Ernaux. Image:TabulaPeutingeriana France west.jpg|Detail of the Tabula Peutingeriana from 1st-4th century, ( is at the center) Image:TheatreLillebonne.jpg|Roman theatre of Lillebonne Image:Apollo of Lillebonne Louvre Br37.jpg|Apollo found at Lillebonne, bronze statue from 2nd…

Geography

Lillebonne lies in the valley of the river Bolbec at the foot of wooded hills at the junction of the D982, D29 and the D81 roads.