Alesia Interpretation Centre
The Battle of Alesia
A well-known place of historical interest, Alesia has been part of the national heritage scene since the famous final battle of the Gallic Wars between Julius Caesar and Vercingetorix. It is located at Alise-Sainte-Reine on a hill between Montbard and Dijon.
After the Gallic victory at Gergovia, the Roman legions retreated northwards to meet up with reinforcements. The Gauls pursued them, but their cavalry were beaten by the Romans at Dijon and Vercingetorix took refuge at Alesia.
Caesar besieged the town with his Gallic allies. Rather than attacking Alesia, he had two lines of fortifications built around it. The first line stopped the Gauls from leaving the settlement and the second prevented the arrival of reinforcements. Ten Roman legions built the double wall in the space of five weeks; one wall was fifteen kilometres long.
Instead of staging uprisings, the Gallic tribes sent a relief army of some 250,000 men to Alesia, including 8,000 on horseback, but it was unable to breach the blockade. After a day of fighting, the Gaulish army was beaten and scattered, pursued by the Roman cavalry.
The Siege of Alesia lasted for two months. When all the provisions were almost used up, Vercingetorix made the women and children leave Alesia, but the Romans refused to let them pass and they died of starvation between the two lines of defence. The Gauls, deprived of food and water, surrendered to the Romans and Vercingetorix was taken prisoner.
Alesia Interpretation Centre
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Les Pierres de L'ôze
in MENETREUX-LE-PITOIS - Côte-d'Or
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Sous le Cerisier
in VENAREY-LES-LAUMES - Côte-d'Or
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Gîte du Moulin Commot
in Bellenot sous Pouilly - Côte-d'Or
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Maison Chaleureuse - Ferme des Thillots
in BEURIZOT - Côte-d'Or