Chassenon Baths

The Chassenon Baths, formerly known as the "Longeas Baths," in Chassenon (within the Charente department) along the Via Agrippa, are among the best‑preserved bath complexes of the Gallo‑Roman world. They form part of the ancient city of Cassinomagus, integrated into a monumental complex that includes a vast sanctuary with the baths, a theater, and a temple. These are double Roman baths, serving both hygienic and therapeutic purposes, constructed over two levels and covering about 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres). History The Chassenon region was inhabited by the Lemovices, a Celtic people of Celtic Gaul. They were established in Roman Aquitaine, one of the three Roman provinces (alongside Belgica and Lyonnaise) created by Emperor Augustus in 27 BCE. Their capital was Augustoritum (modern Limoges). The city of Cassinomagus lay on the western border of the Lemovices' territory, near the Pictones (capital Poitiers), the Santones (Saintes), and the Petrocorii (Périgueux). Construction of the baths spanned about 90 years, beginning around 90 CE during the High Roman Empire and concluding around 180 CE. Visitors today can observe the ruins as they likely appeared by the late 2nd or early 3rd century. A fire, presumed accidental due to the absence of recorded conflicts, destroyed the baths in the late 3rd century. The site was rebuilt in the 4th century, retaining its primary function but with reduced grandeur. Some hypocaust systems remained unrestored, and wooden floors were replaced with less costly materials like earth and sand. By the early 5th century, the baths transitioned into rural housing, continuing in this role until the 6th century, when they were abandoned and gradually buried. The Chassenon Baths are classified as a historic monument and are owned by the Charente department. Excavations occurred from 1958 to 1988, uncovering much of the site, and resumed in 1995. Ongoing digs have deepened understanding of the baths' role and context, revealing an octagonal temple (Montélu), a theater, an aqueduct, and a water supply network within the monumental complex. The double baths are open to visitors from March to November, and year‑round for groups by reservation. Structure Overview Geophysical surveys indicate the baths cover a square area of 120 metres (390 ft) per side, with about two-thirds currently excavated. Access was available directly from the Via Agrippa upon entering Cassinomagus. Ground floor The ground floor was a technical level for staff, housing: A large northeast gallery of uncertain function. A northern courtyard servicing latrines in the upper-left corner and the sewer network. A vaulted passage from the northern courtyard leading to the first heating courtyard and multiple furnaces. A vaulted passage from the heating courtyard accessing "ash rooms" likely used for storing furnace ash. A southern heating courtyard serving additional furnaces (praefurnium). Built on a slope, the site required vaulted rooms to level the upper floor for bathers. Staff did not enter these areas during public use. Furnaces in the heating courtyards used local wood to heat bronze boilers, warming water and air for the hypocaust system. The hypocausts have radiating channels with wall-anchored tubuli. Upper floor The upper floor was designed for bathers and therapeutic visitors, with the symmetrical layout of imperial double baths, with duplicated palaestrae, gymnasiums, frigidaria, and heated rooms, following a central-to-peripheral path. Bathers' circuit The northern circuit catered to athletic bathers, who passed through a large oak-floored gymnasium, a small cleaning and anointing room, and then either proceeded to the central tepidarium (a warm room of 230 square metres (2,500 sq ft)) or directly to the frigidarium. Non-athletes crossed the gymnasium to a small heated room, then to the entry tepidarium, a dry sauna, a wet sauna, an exit tepidarium, and the frigidarium, where they could swim in a small or large outdoor pool. Therapeutic circuit The southern circuit, for therapeutic visitors, turned left through a small heated room, the entry tepidarium, deep warm pools (1.25 metres (4.1 ft) deep), and the therapeutic frigidarium, with access to an indoor pool. Additional structures The baths are flanked by two 50 metres (160 ft)-long ash-wood-floored galleries, extending eastward to the entrance forecourt. Outside, two pools and two palaestrae served as solariums, one for each circuit. Materials and decoration Pool floors were made of limestone or marble, with many rooms having wooden flooring. The construction used limestone and impactite stones, the latter formed by a meteorite impact creating the Rochechouart-Chassenon crater. These impactites, varied in color and texture, are resistant to temperature and frost and were quarried south of Longeas. Limestone slabs for wall and floor coverings came from Charente, while granite was sourced from Haute-Vienne. Water system The baths required at least 629 cubic metres (22,200 cu ft) of water to operate. A primary aqueduct supplied the site, with a secondary aqueduct delivering water to the baths' entrance. Lead pipes fed cold basins and boilers. Wastewater was managed through three systems: a peripheral circuit for rainwater, an underground circuit for basin drainage, and a sewer for latrine cleaning, controlled by valves. Present day Visiting The Chassenon Baths and the archaeological park offer guided tours or audio guides. In 2010, visitor numbers reached 20,000 annually. Tourism development In the 2010s, development plans included external improvements (welcome center, ancient gardens, pathways, parking), completed by 2012–2013. A second phase proposed replacing protective roofing with a 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft) translucent velum dome and building a walkway from the welcome center, costing €9 million. Delayed from 2013 to 2014 due to state funding cuts, the project was canceled in April 2015 by the Charente Departmental Council due to high costs. Research The Charente Departmental Council acquired surrounding land for further excavations to uncover the full palaestra and aqueducts. The temple and theater areas have been surveyed but not excavated. Since 2003, the TherMoNat project has studied the baths' monumental and natural context, focusing on water management. Excavations from 1995 to 2014 were led by David Hourcade (1995–1999, 2003, 2005–2006, 2009–2010, 2012), Stéphane Lebreton (2000), Gabriel Rocque (2009–2010), and Sandra Sicard (2014). See also Cassinomagus Roman baths Lemovices Via Agrippa Gallia Aquitania Roman architecture References Further reading Arbellot, François (1862). "Fouilles de Chassenon (Charente)" [Excavations at Chassenon (Charente)]. Bulletin Monumental. 3 (in French). 28 (8): 297–311. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2025. Maurin, Louis (1984). "Cassinomagus". In Pierre Debord (ed.). Charente (in French). pp. 62–63. External links "Site officiel des Thermes de Chassenon – Cassinomagus" [Official site of the Chassenon Baths – Cassinomagus]. Cassinomagus (in French). Retrieved June 30, 2025. "Site officiel de la Société des Amis de Chassenon" [Official site of the Friends of Chassenon Society]. amis.chassenon.free.fr (in French). Archived from the original on December 5, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2025. "Reconstitution 3D – parc archéologique Cassinomagus" [3D reconstruction – Cassinomagus archeological park]. Youtube (in French). Département de la Charente. Retrieved June 30, 2025.