Paris, French Republic
Region: l’Ile de la Cité
Theme: Archaeology, Archaeological Site & Underground
Visit: September, 2017
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The Archaeological Crypt of the Île de la Cité is a museum of the City of Paris, located just under the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral ⛿ The site presents archaeological remains from Antiquity to the 19th century, discovered during excavations carried out in the 1960s and 1970s, before the construction of an underground car park.
The Gallo-Roman town of Lutetia began to develop on the left bank of the Seine in the reign of Augustus (27 BCE to 14 CE). This site was occupied by the Gaulish tribe, the Parisii, whose name features on coins recovered from the river Seine. In the first quarter of the first century CE, several small islands were joined together to form the current Île de la Cité economic and commercial activities developed around the river and port. A section of the quay, which is the only remnant of this ancient port, has been preserved.
In the III rd century, the island was completely built over. This is demonstrated in the crypt by the remains of huge, luxurious dwellings, including the base of a column.
From the middle of the third century right up until the fifth century CE, Lutetia which was threatened by the first Germanic invasions, was a strategic site for the defence of the Roman Empire against the barbarians. The Île de la Cité was fortified in 308, becoming the active center of the city and the settlement on the left bankwas partially abandoned.
Two outstanding fourth-century structures, ramparts and bath, whose remains can be seen in the crypt, illustrate the transitions in the city at a time when the ancient era was coming to a close and the first barbarian invasions were taking place.
The Middle Ages saw the rise of development focused around the cathedral, whose construction began in 1163. This included the creation of a new street, the rue Neuve Notre-Dame, in line with the central great door of the cathedral, the reconstruction of the Hôtel-Dieu hospital to the South of the cathedral square and the construction of buildings and churches.
In the eighteenth century, many mediaeval buildings were destroyed to ease traffic and improve sanitation in the Île de la Cité. The square was extended, the rue Neuve Notre-Dame was widened and the Hospice des Enfants-Trouvés foundling hospital was built. In the nineteenth century, the city prefect, Haussmann, carried out a radical programme of urban restructuring, destroying many old buildings and lanes.
Barracks (which are now the police headquarters) were erected at the back of the square, in addition to the current Hôtel–Dieu on the side of the square. The current layout of the square is the result of these major changes.
1965-1972 : Archaeological excavations are conducted on the square in front of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral during the construction of a car park.
1974 : Creation of the crypt
1980 : The crypt is opened to the public
2000 : Management of the site is taken over in October 1999 and the crypt is officially attached to the musée Carnavalet
2008 : 140,000 visitors, 118 meters length of the crypt, 29 meters width of the crypt, 2,200 sq. m surface area, of which 1,800 sq.m is used to display archaeological remains.
Photo-α: Crypt Model
Further information at: Crypte.paris.fr | Archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/Crypte | wiki.org/Crypte
“The ancient oppidum that corresponds to the modern city of Paris was first mentioned
in the mid-1st century BC by Julius Caesar as Luteciam Parisiorum (‘Lutetia of the Parisii’),
and is later attested as Parision in the 5th century AD, then as Paris in 1265.
During the Roman period, it was commonly known as Lutetia or Lutecia in Latin,
and as Leukotekía in Greek, which is interpreted as either stemming
from the Celtic root *lukot- (‘mouse’), or from *luto- (‘marsh, swamp’).”
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