Cularo

Cularowas the name of theGalliccity which evolved into modernGrenoble.It was renamed Gratianopolis in 381 to honor Roman emperorGratian.

Model of the Gallo-Roman Walls that surrounded Cularo from the end of the 3rd century on.

Remnants of the Roman walls of Cularo

The first remaining reference to what is now Grenoble dates back to a July 43 BC letter by Munatius Plancus toCicero.The small town founded by theAllobrogesGallic people was at that time called Cularo. In 292, the western emperorMaximianelevated the town to the rank of “city” and had defensive walls built around it. These walls both protected the urban area and marked its status ofCivitas.Theirvestigesare now a landmark of this era.

Wishing to thank and honor the emperorGratianfor creating itsbishopric,the inhabitants of Cularo renamed their town Gratianopolis in 381. That name would subsequently evolve into Grenoble through Graignovol.

The Saint-Laurent crypt and the baptistery of Grenoble date also back from the Gallo-Roman period (4th century), and have been preserved to this day; the latter remained in use until the 9th century but had later been buried under accumulated urban layers; it was rediscovered in 1989 during the construction oftramwaytracks, excavated until 1996, and incorporated into the adjacentMusée de l'Ancien Évêché.Several small sections of the Gallo-Roman city wall are also visible in the old town, especially in rue Lafayette.

Further reading

• William Smith,ed. (1872) [1854]."Cularo".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography.London: John Murray.hdl:2027/hvd.ah5cuq.

External links

• Perseus.