L’établissement routier de la Goudagne (Auch, Gers) : une hôtellerie ?

Abstract

Along the Auch-Lectoure Roman road, aerial surveys have sufficiently revealed the establishment of Goudagne (Auch, Gers) to allow an attempt at its characterisation. This is based, first, on the importance of the route that links the central Pyrenees to the Garonne on the Antonine Itinerary. Further north in Limoges, this joins the bypass mapped out by Agrippa between Lyon and Saintes, as well as the capital of Gaul by veering eastward from Agen. Second, it could be seen in the administrative importance of the principal towns of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (Auch and Lectoure), which were milestones in the Itinerary. Finally, an architectural analysis and related comparisons argue in favour of the roadhouse hypothesis, characterised by the presence of a large complex consisting of four main buildings set around at least two courtyards. Indeed the architectural model suggested by the aerial surveys is similar to those that are considered as mansiones or praetoria. The examples cited in this paper reveal similarities with the morphology of the Goudagne site. It therefore seems preferable to adopt the hypothesis of a hostel rather than a villa. Although the use of Latin terms to designate venues for travellers is to be treated with caution, the hypothesis of a praetorium, considered as a residence for senior officials travelling in the provinces, is envisaged for the Goudagne relay station.