• 25.07.2026

France wants to recreate a city from the Roman Empire.

Béziers Mayor Robert Ménard unveiled the Béziers Antique project, which aims to recreate the city's appearance during the Roman Empire, as it appeared around 30 AD.

The 30-year project calls for the use of exclusively ancient Roman construction techniques.

"We will rebuild Béziers as it was 30 years after the birth of Christ," Ménard said in an interview with Ici Hérault.

According to the mayor, despite the lack of visible traces of antiquity, individual artifacts still remain in the city.

The work will be carried out in three phases, and the construction sites will be open to the public. The first phase (2025-2030) includes the construction of an amphitheater, workshops, and educational centers. The second (2031-2040) will add cultural facilities and historical reconstructions. The final phase (2041-2055) will culminate in international events. Historian and project director Eric Teissier emphasized the uniqueness of this idea.

"The concept is fundamentally different from the Puy-du-Fou park," he noted, comparing the project to a historical theme park in western France.

Thirty-five specialists will be hired to implement the project. They will be trained in ancient crafts such as stoneworking, mosaic making, and blacksmithing. The total budget is €13 million, €3 million of which is public funding.

The project aims to revive the historical roots of Béziers, known as the oldest city in France. Its foundation is believed to date back to the 7th century BC. The city boasts numerous historical monuments, including an ancient amphitheater, the Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire (mentioned since the 8th century), the Church of Sainte-Madeleine (11th century), and the Canal du Midi (17th century).