The necropolis is unique in that it is a cemetery that has been in use from Roman times right up to the present day: almost 2,000 years of human occupation.
The Merovingian necropolis at Civaux is exceptional for its enclosure made entirely of sarcophagus lids. Inside, several hundred sarcophagi bear witness to this immense necropolis, which in the 18th century contained between 7,000 and 15,000 tombs in an area of over 3 hectares.
Legend has it that Frankish soldiers killed in the battle of Vouillé in 507 between Clovis and the Visigoths were buried here. Today, historians believe that this extraordinary necropolis is linked to the early Christianization of the area, encouraged by a church and baptistery whose remains are still visible. The faithful would have come in large numbers to be buried in Civaux to take advantage of the notoriety of the Christian sanctuary and the relics of Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais.
Most of the sarcophagi date from the Merovingian period (between 500 and 750 AD). Trapezoidal in shape, the lids are adorned with three crossbars, a typical Poitou decoration at the time. Some sarcophagi are decorated with Christian symbols such as crosses, tridents and anchors, or bear an inscription indicating the name of the deceased.
Built in the early 16th century, the chapel stood at the center of the larger necropolis. The foundations of an earlier Romanesque apse are visible at the foot of the chevet. Excavations inside the chapel in 1961 uncovered coins from the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as a bull from Pope Clement VII (1523-1534). These objects are on display in the archaeological museum.
To discover the necropolis, guided tours are organized by appointment or on fixed dates, and audio guides (to discover the entire heritage) are available from the museum reception desk to allow visitors to explore at their own pace.
Civaux also boasts an archaeological museum, a Romanesque church built over a Roman sanctuary and the remains of a Merovingian baptistery, the Abyssea multi-activity complex, the Crocodile Planet...
The necropolis was listed as a Historic Monument in 1923.
Open : Open all year round, every day.
Free admission. Guided tour (1h30 with the museum, church and remains of the Roman sanctuary and baptistery) by appointment. Adults: €6. Children: 3€. Adult group: €4. Children's group: 2€. Groups of 15 or more
Merovingian Necropolis
30, place de Gomelange,
86320 Civaux
Tel.: 05 49 48 34 61
https://www.ville-civaux.fr/tourisme/la-necropole-merovingienne
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