Village of Javols

#Discover

Javols, a village of 330 inhabitants spread across several hamlets, attracts visitors thanks to its rich ancient heritage, its museum, and its archaeological site. Known for the Gabalades, a celebration of its Gallo-Roman past, the village combines history and nature with its forests, its Roman road, and the Triboulin River. Since 2017, Javols has been part of the new municipality of Peyre en Aubrac.

A bit of history

     Javols is located on the site of the ancient Gallo-Roman capital of the Gabales, a Gallic tribe near present-day Lozère. Shortly after Caesar’s conquest of Gaul, Anderitum was founded in the lower part of the Triboulin hills. This Roman town boasted a forum, administrative and judicial buildings, a theater, and two bath complexes.

In the 2nd century, the town reached its peak, covering 40 hectares. This prosperity was due to the peace and wealth of the Roman Empire. Although it lost its status as capital in the Early Middle Ages to Mende, Javols remained a major administrative center until the end of Antiquity. It was also there that the first Christian community in the region settled.

Site archéologique de Jovols
Gabalades

exploring the village

  • The Javols archaeological site preserves the remains of the Roman era. It is home to Anderitum, the capital of the Gabali tribe in the 2nd century. There, you can explore residential and commercial districts, public buildings, the forum, the baths, and the theater.

    The archaeological museum displays artifacts unearthed during excavations. It is open by appointment for groups year-round, and to the general public during the school holidays from April to October.
    The Church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius, built in the 19th century, stands on the site of the former medieval church.

A closer look at the archaeological museum

     Did you know? The Gabali were a Gallic tribe, neighbors of the Arverni. Julius Caesar mentions them in his Gallic Wars. Their territory corresponds to present-day Lozère. They are therefore the ancestors of the people of Lozère! Discover their crafts at Anderitum 2,000 years ago: pottery, the construction of domus (traditional houses), and the key role of wood in the local economy.

More information: https://archeologie-javols.org/

APRIL, MAY, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER
Monday to Friday
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM

JULY/AUGUST
Monday to Sunday (except Sunday morning)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM     

Randonnée du trou del Baou

Starting on foot from Javols

Looking to get some fresh air? Starting from Javols, three hiking trails will take you on a journey to discover the landscapes, forests, and viewpoints surrounding the town.

Download the detailed hiking guides for each route for free: distance, duration, difficulty level, trail markings… everything you need to plan your outing with complete peace of mind.