Cité antique, Javols

Anderitum, mentioned under the form ad Gabalos towards the end of the 3rd century and then Javols during the following centuries, is a Gallo-Roman city located in the French department of Lozère, on the lands of the current commune of Peyre-en-Aubrac. It is the chief town of the civitas of Gabales from the end of the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD.

Following a Latin settlement that was probably quite diffuse and located partly outside the site of the ancient city, Anderitum was probably founded, like many civitan capitals, during the reign of Augustus, in the last two decades of the 1st century BC. In the 2nd century, at its maximum extension, the city covered about forty hectares and had a population estimated at a few thousand inhabitants. In addition to several dwellings including three well identified domus, it includes an amphitheater or more probably a theater-amphitheater, two thermal establishments and a civic center including a forum, a curia as well as a basilica. The urban center is organized in a network of orthogonal streets. Its apogee is of short duration and the city seems to regress as of the following century: Anderitum is thus part of the "ephemeral capitals" of Roman Gaul. In the Middle Ages, the chief town was transferred to the city of Mende, which strengthened its political and economic weight by becoming the seat of the diocese. It is from this period that the ancient city gives way to the village of Javols.

Explorations and then archaeological excavations, for a long time limited to the heart of the city, took place there from the 19th century. The remains of the monumental center of Anderitum were registered as historical monuments in 1954, and the rest of the site received the same protection in 1991. A landscape enhancement restoring the network of streets of the town and restoration operations of the most significant remains improve the conditions of visit. Virtual reality technologies also offer a restitution of the ancient city.