Codognan: Via Domitia, the Rhôny and local history

Codognan can be understood through two themes that operate on different scales: the historic Via Domitia and the Rhôny in the plain. The Roman road points to a long-distance connection between Italy and Spain; its local link becomes tangible at the Chemin de la Monnaie. The Rhôny shapes the landscape with its branches and meanders, and is also part of the history of earlier human uses. If you are looking for hotels in Codognan, this distinction can help you view the town according to your interests: Roman roads, historic river crossings or the landscape each offer a different perspective on the destination.

The Via Domitia and its local connection

The Via Domitia was built around 118 BC as a 780-kilometre Roman road between Italy and Spain. Its length conveys its character as a long-distance connection: Codognan’s link belongs to a route that extended far beyond a single town. Locally, the former Via Domitia continues as the Chemin de la Monnaie; the road forms the boundary between Vergèze and Codognan. Two scales therefore sit side by side: a long-distance connection between Italy and Spain and a specifically named route along the boundary between two municipalities. This distinction is particularly useful for finding your bearings. The Via Domitia was, on the one hand, a Roman-era interregional road and, on the other, is associated in Codognan with a local name. This makes it possible to consider the road’s broad historical significance alongside a precise local connection.

The Rhôny: landscape and earlier uses

In the plain of Codognan, the Rhôny divides into several branches. This shapes the landscape as a branching river course; its meanders are also part of the local history of the river. In the past, the Rhôny and its meanders supplied people and animals with water, provided power and helped fertilise and irrigate the soil along their course. The water thus served several purposes: it supplied water, provided power and supported the cultivation of the land. These connections explain why the river can be seen not only as a feature of the landscape but also as part of the foundations of earlier life and work. The Rhôny’s historical role thus links the natural environment with the history of its use.

The development of a river crossing

The historic crossing of the Rhôny evolved from a ford to a masonry footbridge, then to a bridge designed to be submerged during floods, and finally to a bridge that spanned the river. This sequence draws attention not only to the Rhôny as a landscape feature, but also to how the crossing of the river changed over time. The history of the crossing thus adds a different perspective on historic transport routes to that of the Via Domitia: here, the focus is on crossing the river, while there it is on the long-distance road.

The Via Domitia between Nîmes and Ambrussum

Between Nîmes and Ambrussum, the Via Domitia crossed the Rhôny by means of a bridge. A fort was built beside the bridge to protect the crossing and collect tolls. The Via Domitia, the bridge and the fort reveal different aspects of travel along this section of the route: an overland connection, a river crossing, and protection and toll collection. The bridge and the fort had different functions; together, they give this historic crossing a structural and practical dimension. This connection adds the role of a river crossing to the road’s history and broadens your view of the Roman transport landscape.

An event in April

In Codognan, the Trophée du Rhôny is associated with a bullfighting event in April. If this event is the main reason for your trip, check the specific dates and programme for your travel period in advance.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Paul-Les-Fonts, Roquemaure, Malons-et-Elze, Collias, Saint-André-De-Roquepertuis, Saint-Siffret, Saint-Privat-De-Champclos, Sabran.

For the broader travel overview: Gard.