The Roman capital designed to replace a Celtic stronghold

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Once a bustling Roman capital with up to 100,000 residents, Autun was a planned foundation by Emperor Augustus. Built to serve as the new political centre for the Aedui people, this Burgundian town has transitioned from an imperial powerhouse to an industrial pioneer and a site of medieval artistry.

During the early Roman Empire, Emperor Augustus established Augustodunum to provide a formal capital for the A\u00e9dui, a Gallic tribe that had been allies of Rome since the time of Julius Caesar. This planned city was intended to replace the original Celtic stronghold, Bibracte, located approximately 25 km away. At its Roman peak, estimates suggest the population may have reached between 30,000 and 100,000 people, a stark contrast to the modern commune of about 13,000.

The city's architectural legacy remains visible through its Roman gates, such as the Porte Saint-Andr\u00e9 and Porte d'Arroux, and a massive theatre that once seated 17,000 people. In late antiquity, Autun became a renowned centre for rhetoric, housing a large-scale world map based on Ptolemy's Geography. However, the city's defenses were not always impenetrable; in AD 356, the Alemanni besieged the city, and it was only saved by the arrival of Emperor Julian.

Beyond its classical roots, Autun has been a site of significant historical shifts. In the 6th century, Merovingian kings Childebert I and Chlothar I defeated the Burgundians near the city in 532. By the 12th century, the construction of the Saint Lazare Cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, introduced a new era of pilgrimage. The cathedral's famous sculptures, particularly the Last Judgment tympanum, are attributed to the artist Gislebertus, one of the rare medieval creators whose name survived the centuries.

The town's industrial history is equally notable. In the 19th century, Autun became a pioneer of the Industrial Revolution through the exploitation of oil shale and fluorine. This era of mineral wealth even led to the 1852 discovery of the uranium mineral autunite, which was named in honour of the town.

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