House with the Grand Peristyle in Vieux-la-Romaine

The House with the Grand Peristyle, erroneously designated the Villa with the Grand Peristyle, is also known as the domus of Lower Vieux. It is a Gallo-Roman domus located within the archaeological site of Vieux-la-Romaine, the ancient Aregenua, approximately 15 kilometers south of Caen. The city was established during the 1st century and reached its apogee during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The city was not fortified and did not become the seat of a bishopric as a result of the invasions that occurred during the 3rd century. The territory of the Viducasses, of which Aregenua was the capital, was absorbed by the city of Bayeux as evidenced by the early 5th century. Consequently, the city ceased to exist as an urban center, even though the site remained continuously occupied. The Lower Vieux house is a distinctive building that reached its apogee in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. As a consequence of the urbanization of the city from the 5th century onwards, the archaeological remains of the ancient city are accessible for research purposes and were the subject of early excavations, which commenced at the end of the 17th century.